Goodrich- A new senior housing project may be coming to the village.
Local officials were expected to meet on Thursday to discuss phase one of 50 one or two bedroom apartments for individuals 55-years-old and up. The proposed housing will be on six acres purchased about five years ago from the Goodrich United Methodist Church by a developer for the project to be located near the intersection of M-15 and Hegel Road. The project is spearheaded by long-time area resident Emery Bennett who says the idea has been in the works for many years.
‘We felt there was a growing need for affordable housing for seniors and it was becoming more and more evident as our population ages,? said Bennett. ‘We are committed to getting (the project) off the ground in the next 12-16 months. So far there are about 45 individuals, including some couples, who have expressed interest in renting affordable senior housing? even before we put a shovel in the ground.?
Bennett said each of the units will average about 1,000 square feet. If the demand continues for the apartments a second phase of an additional 50 apartments could be built on the site east of M-15 and south of Hegel Road.
‘We also have enough sewer capacity to accommodate the additional population in the village,? he said.
Funding for the project could come from grants from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, added Bennett. The rent paid will be based on income similar to existing senior housing in the Davison area, specifically the Ballard Village, Taeckens Terrace and Braidwood Manor designed for those 62-years-old and up. The rent is based on income of $19,000 for a single person and $21,000 for a couple. The facilities, which house several hundred residents, remain almost at capacity. An increase in demand by seniors for housing and services parallels a recent report issued by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments or SEMCOG, the regional planner that encompasses Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties.
According to the report, a major factor that will affect the region in the long-term is the aging of the population. By 2040, Southeast Michigan will have 1,130,643 people 65 or older and 296,000 fewer people of prime working age (25-64). In comparison the same region in 2010 was 610,665 for those 65 and over’an increase of 85 percent is expected over the next 30 years.
‘For residential communities like Brandon and Groveland townships along with nearby villages it simply means a lot more older residents that need a wider range of housing options,? said Xuan Liu SEMCOG research manager. ‘We anticipate that a lot of the local senior population will age right in place within their same community and area. Other needs will include transportation, medical facilities and assisted-living.?
The building industry will need to recognize that trends are shifting to more condominiums and apartments for empty-nest households, added Liu.
‘The one sector with strong growth will be health care and social services,? he added. ‘The industry that is growing the fastest is the health industry with a projected 45 percent increase jobs driven by the aging population. That can be an asset to any community.?