Howell nonprofit steps in to revive rundown motel in Howell Township

A Howell-based nonprofit seized an opportunity to turn a rundown motel into affordable housing for hard-pressed residents.

Community Catalysts Development Co. recently purchased the western portion of the former Crest Motel at 4495 W. Grand River Avenue, about three miles west of downtown in Howell Township. 

Construction crews have begun extensive renovations to convert the more than 5,000-square-foot building into an extended stay motel called Bethel Suites, where motel- and apartment-style units will be available at reduced rates on a weekly or monthly basis. 

"The people we’ll serve will be a variety of people," said Eileen Zilch, who founded Community Catalysts, a parent nonprofit to the development group, several years ago to increase options for affordable, attainable and transitional housing in Livingston County.

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"People in the community are looking for a clean, safe, place to stay for a week, month or several months, because they are struggling to find housing that they can afford or waiting for something to become available," Zilch said. 

Units are expected to cost $35 a night for a motel-style unit with a kitchenette to about $60 a night for an apartment-style unit with a full kitchen and multiple rooms. Bethel Suites also will feature efficiency apartment-style units priced somewhere in between.

Zilch said other housing assistance organizations place people in transitional and emergency housing at other local establishments by negotiating reduced rates. 

She said the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency is usually the main point of contact for people in need of housing assistance. The agency has negotiated rates for temporary housing that local nonprofits placing people in housing typically match.

"Organizations are currently housing people in other local establishments they aren't thrilled with," she said. "We're going to match their rates, but our (facility) will be nicer, newer."

She said they will work with other local organizations that serve people with housing needs to place people at the facility. A former manager's apartment at the motel will be used as a meeting room where local agencies can meet with clients who are staying there. 

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Community Catalysts is putting about $1.5 million toward renovations, which include converting a garage to living spaces to increase the living space from 11 to 14 fully-furnished units.

"We want it to be comfortable, safe, light and bright, so that people feel good and encouraged and they have the rest and rejuvenation they need to tackle whatever challenges they need to overcome," Zilch said. 

Loans, donations collected from the community, and an ongoing fundraising campaign will finance the makeover project. 

Professionals pitching in are offering free or reduced rates for services that include contracting, architecture and legal.  

Hard to come by

Becky Phelps, a local developer who currently serves as Community Catalyst's board chair, said affordable housing options are limited in Livingston County. 

"Even though we're a very affluent community, we have many unmet needs, and people don't know until they have kids who move away, and we're trying to get housing for employees who work here and have to be bused in," Phelps said.

"We're trying to do it at a level that is quality. We're not trying to cut corners to serve people. We’re trying to provide them the best quality, dignity, a place to call home and feel home."

Zilch said she expects many of the facility's guests will be actively employed adults who don't make enough income to easily save up for upfront costs, like security deposits, associated with a new apartment or home. 

For some, Bethel Suites will be like "bridge housing."

"It buys them time to find housing," Zilch said. "There is very little housing for people to choose from and they have to wait for something to become available."

She noted that Livingston County residents making upwards of $50,000 a year can struggle to make ends meet due to the high cost of living in the county and shortage of housing options. 

New life

Howell Township Zoning Administrator Joe Daus said he is looking forward to the motel's makeover considering the years it fell into disrepair. 

"It is certainly nice to see if being cleaned up and used for something," Daus said.

The Crest Motel operated for decades, but faced tax forfeiture on multiple occasions and went through foreclosure in 2018, according to records from Livingston County Register of Deeds.

Daus said he remembers occupants had to vacate.

Zilch said it wasn't being operated as a motel anymore, although after the foreclosure, one unit was being used.

"But the owner allowed people that were really in a dire situation, that didn’t mind the dilapidated condition," she said.

Party planned for September

Community Catalysts will host a Motel Party open house event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 23-24. 

Those who attend will get a chance to see the progress of renovations and learn about the organization's vision for the motel. 

The event will include tours, light food and beverages and information about their mission. 

Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.