The Missing Middle Housing Program, according to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, is designed to help create attainable and affordable housing. By covering gaps in developer funding relating to construction costs, materials and wages. The house in Ishpeming, finished and up for sale, is located at 420 S. Lake St.

Antonio Adan, housing specialist and project manager for Marquette county, spoke about the Land Bank Authority’s goals with the Missing Middle Housing Program.

“Through a partnership with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the Marquette County Land Bank Authority has been successful in completing and constructing about two to three homes a year,” Adan said. “With the Missing Middle Program, we were just awarded another 8 units. We’ll be partnering with Marquette city and the surrounding area to be able to build affordable rentals and for-sale units.

“What that means is that Missing Middle (housing) is going to be structured with 80 to 120 percent of the area median income and one of them (the units) will be at 60% AMI, so underneath that 80 percent threshold. (This) is nice because that gives us a wide range of different incomes that people could qualify for and be able to live in the area. A lot of these projects are taking time but we’re very grateful to be able to do it with the Land Bank Authority.”

In addition to the Ishpeming house, the Land Bank Authority has also been focused on renovation projects happening in the Negaunee area. These include an abatement and demolition grant on 208 Silver St., the Vista Theater roof grant at 230 Iron St. and a roof and siding stabilization grant at 108/111 Main St.

The former Knights of Columbus building has been razed at the Silver Street location, and developer Ben Argall is working with architects RG Design to begin pre-development of a future housing site.

A new roof and a redesign/rehabilitation project lies in store for the Vista Theater. Developers A/V Rentals in partnership with the Land Bank Authority are renovating the Main St location into four new rental units, with an estimated project completion set for spring 2025.

“I’ve been working in local government for 24 years so to be able to do this kind of work that people get excited about and where you can see like neighborhood improvement actually happening is very fulfilling for me personally and it’s why I keep getting excited about these projects,” said Anne Giroux, executive director of the Marquette County Land Bank Authority, ” … we’re excited that our work is turning into attainable housing opportunities for people because we recognize the need for it and being able to be part of a solution is also very fulfilling.”

For more information about the Missing Middle Housing Program, please visit the MSHDA website at michigan.gov/mshda/developers/missing-middle.

More information on the Marquette County Land Bank Authority can be found at co.marquette.mi.us/departments/county_treasurer/land_bank_authority.php.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.