Most Riverview Terrace apartment residents moved back to Lenawee County from Dundee

ADRIAN — Of the nearly 80 Adrian residents residing in a Dundee hotel since July 29 after having been evacuated from their Adrian apartments July 25, only one has opted to remain in Dundee, while the remaining residents are back in Lenawee County.

Adrian City Administrator Greg Elliott told the Adrian City Commission during its premeeting work study session Monday that those residents of the condemned Riverview Terrace apartments who were shuttled to Dundee July 29 for temporary housing at the soon-to-be opened hotel at Splash Universe returned to Lenawee County as of Aug. 12, which was the conclusion of the agreed-upon two-week stay at the hotel. The residents are now lined up with living arrangements at the Adrian Inn, the Tecumseh Inn and the Super 8 Motel in Adrian.

The goal, Elliott said, is to get as many Riverview Terrace apartment residents into rooms at the Adrian Inn, which is almost under city ownership. Elliott told the commission the city is expected to close on the property during a transaction scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19.

“So after that point, we will have control of that property and we will be able to make the sort of deals that we want to make — or can make — with residents to keep them there over the longer term,” Elliott said.

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Because of a housing shortage in Lenawee County and neighboring regions, the city of Adrian has agreed to buy the Adrian Inn motel on West Maumee Street to temporarily address some of those housing needs. The commission voted unanimously at its Aug. 1 meeting to enter into a purchase agreement for the inn in the amount of $800,000.

The city declared a the motel public nuisance in the spring of 2021 due to repeated reports of criminal activity there. It has been in litigation with the motel owners since then.

There are a total of 69 rooms available at the inn that are going to be occupied by Riverview Terrace residents and other individuals who are currently being assisted through housing agencies, such as Housing Help of Lenawee.

Riverview Terrace, an independent-living community for people who are 62 and older or who are permanently disabled, was condemned and its 175 tenants were evacuated July 25 after a 6- to 9-inch gap between the floor and a wall was found in a third-floor apartment while carpet was being removed. Inspections found several more cracks throughout the building. Officials have said it appears the exterior walls are separating from the interior structure of the building.

Chicago engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti has been working with the city and the condemned building for more than a week to work out a plan for its future. Elliott said a report from the firm has yet to be provided but it is expected a “general nature” report will be completed by the end of the week. The first report from the firm, he said, will not outline the scope of repair. That report should come later.  

During the first week of the relocation efforts, the city was trying to find placement for 65 people, Elliott said. Now, that number has grown to almost 100, as people who lined up temporary housing arrangements are seeking the city’s assistance. That number may continue to grow, he altered the commission.

“Regardless of the number of rooms (at the Adrian Inn), it's not enough for everybody who has the need to be housed,” Elliott said. “…The Adrian Inn, while it’s going to substantially help, it is not going to solve all of the needs. There are still going to be other needs. Our hope is that as we pick off people and find them more permanent housing, those rooms will become available for other folks who are still in transition. The numbers are quite large as it relates to the number of people who need some kind of assistance.” 

At some point, the displaced tenants will have to start paying rent again, Elliott said. Almost everybody at Riverview Terrace paid rent, which averaged about $600 per month. To pay for the current motel and hotel stays, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority has issued vouchers through Housing Help of Lenawee and management of Riverview Terrace has paid for hotel stays, as well.

To make the Adrian Inn more habitable, Elliott said repairs are needed to water heaters at the inn and to a leaking roof above a gathering and banquet hall section of the inn. On top of those costs, Elliott said, the city could be spending “thousands of dollars” per month to operate the structure and also to make it more wheelchair-friendly and accessible.

The city, he said, is crunching the numbers to determine what kind of a monthly rent to charge those who stay at the inn.

“We want to get as many people as possible into the Adrian Inn because we can control that building,” he said. “But we're going to have to charge folks something to stay there because there will obviously be operating costs.”