$2.1 million rehab of Lithuanian Hall under way in Southwest

Southwest Non-Profit Housing Corporation (SNPHC) has started
construction on its $2.1 million renovation of the 13,000 square-foot
Lithuanian Hall on West Vernor just east of West Grand Boulevard. This
neighborhood landmark will be fully restored into office and retail
space; SNPHC will be moving their offices into the 4,000 square-foot
former ballroom.

The hall was built in the 1920s to serve as a social and cultural
center for the Lithuanian population. The organization saw the
stabilization of this commercial property as integral to the
neighborhood’s success. “We’ve invested $25 million [in this area] over
the last seven years,” says SNPHC executive director Tim Thorland.
“Various people have owned the building over the last 12-15 years and
no one could make a go of it. We never want to step in front of the
private market, but the private market didn’t have interest or trust
their ability to make money on this project — so we stepped in because
this is an important piece of property on West Vernor.”

Construction is on track to be completed in late summer. The first
floor will contain 6,000 square feet of neighborhood retail with an
additional 3,000 square feet of office space in the basement — notable
for its 10-foot tall ceilings and light wells.

The project has attained a complex range of financing, with support
from the Non-Profit Facilities Center, O’Brien Construction — the
project’s general contractor, Community Foundation for Southeastern
Michigan, Mexicantown-Hubbard Communities, Brownfield Single Business
Tax Credits and a 10 percent Federal Historic Tax Credit.

Source: Tim Thorland, Southwest Non-Profit Housing Corporation