MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A housing development in Marquette has received over a million dollars in federal low income tax credits. Black Rock Crossing is a proposed 50 unit development on West Ridge Street.
The two building complex was first proposed back in March, along with a “Payment in lieu of tax” agreement approved by the city. The project developers, Woda Cooper Inc, have partnered with The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. With nearly 300 tribal members in the county, the partnership sets aside nine of the planned 50 units for tribal members and their families.
But, The CEO of the KBIC, Brigitte LaPointe-Dunham, said the development would help more than just tribal members.
“Its affordable housing,” LaPointe-Dunham said. “Of course low income is intertwined with that but Marquette county is in need of affordable housing.”
Black Rock is one of many new developments on its way in Marquette, some of the complexes play a role in the city’s updated master plan that set a goal to create 500 new units over the next 5 to 7 years. Maquette’s City Manager, Karen Kovacs, said this development plays an important role in creating more affordable units.
The PILT agreement with The City of Marquette was a step in applying for the $1,453,400 federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) through The Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The MSHDA tax credit is a part of a greater $13 million award state wide, with the goal of encouraging more affordable housing projects in Michigan. To qualify for the LIHTC credit, the target must be renters who make less than 80% of the area median income.
Now ready to move forward with support on the state and local levels, Lapointe-Dunham said the focus now is on permitting.
“Some time before the snow gets too deep we’d like to start the permitting process.” Lapointe-Dunham said. “Right now the general contracting and the design teams are getting together, that’s the next step, and then from there we’ll see what comes out.”
There is no set time line for the project at the moment, Kovacs says they still have to work through all the proper procedures, but they hope to see the project finished in 2025.
Brigitte lapointe dunam is the ceo for the keweenaw bay indian community…
She says the kbic has a total of 240 units across the up, 40 of those are in marquette county.s
