Affordable Housing in a Tough Market

Ann Arbor, Michigan bought a former YMCA building to serve as affordable housing. Four years later, it sits empty, a piece of the difficult housing puzzle. 'Given the environment now, it would be tough,' says one planner about the site.

1 minute read

October 14, 2008, 6:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

"Ann Arbor's history with housing at the old YMCA on Fifth Avenue and William Street is long and complicated.

Two decades ago, city officials promoted an expansion of the Y's dormitory-style residence to 100 units - a move that led to financial failure.

More recently, the city bought the property when the Y relocated to new quarters. The goal was to ensure that the 100 single-room-occupancy units were preserved and ultimately replaced.

But four years after the $3.5 million purchase, there's a parking lot on the corner instead of housing. And city officials are still looking for other locations for at least some of that very low-income housing."

FULL STORY: Housing may go off Y site

Monday, October 13, 2008 in Mlive.com

Housing Michigan Affordable Housing

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