Benton Charter Township and the Berrien Community Foundation have teamed up for a new pilot project to help working families find affordable homes.
The Benton Township Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved the donation of a township-owned property at 450 Madeline Avenue to the BCF so it can seek to have a new home constructed and placed there. BCF President Lisa Cripps-Downey told trustees the foundation is working to build the home at a cost of $175,000 so it can then be sold to a buyer for that same amount. She told us that cuts out a big chunk of the cost.
“We’re not trying to make a profit,” Cripps-Downey said. “That’s not my job. My job is to build community and to help with the housing crisis that we have.”
The foundation is working with with Roy’s Home Center in Gobles to build the 1,280 square foot modular home. That’s a modular home, and not a mobile home. It’ll have three bedrooms and two bathrooms and give someone a chance to own a new home and build generational wealth at a more reasonable price than the market currently allows.
Benton Township Supervisor Cathy Yates told us this is a great idea.
“Lisa’s been an advocate of trying to help people, first-time homeowners, to get something that’s affordable for them, and I think she’s probably found the first location and will look for others in the township,” Yates said.
Plus, Yates said this will benefit the township.
“It’ll be good for the township because we’ll be putting the property back on the tax roll, and that’s good for us. Having someone use water and sewer means something to us also.”
The site on Madeline Avenue was selected because it already has water and sewer. A local contractor will be engaged to handle site prep while the BCF works with Roy’s to acquire the home.
Cripps-Downey said the BCF has been working with banks, credit unions, and realtors to get this project rolling, and they estimate the total monthly cost of a mortgage, insurance, and taxes for this home will be $1,063, much less than renting. If this works well, she said there could be a future for the program.
“We get to do it again. We can build more. We can do that kind of infill housing that can provide these very nice affordable homes that people can own.”
Cripps-Downey said the township will determine the process for selecting a buyer. It will be designed to ensure the buyer becomes a township resident and doesn’t flip the home or rent it out.
Berrien Community Foundation board member Philip Maki told trustees he hopes Benton Township becomes a model for other communities seeking to do similar projects. He added it could take about six months to get the new home ready for residents.
Photo: a rendering of the home in question.
