The Near East Side will see 20 single-family, affordable, green homes developed on Charlevoix between Chene and Jos. Campau.
The homes will include down payment assistance of up to $60,000 and are in a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ).
Five styles of homes are available, including the Michigan, with 2,100 square feet, four bedrooms and 3-1/2 baths. After all the incentives are factored in, the monthly mortgage payment could add up to less than $1,000 based on a $126,000 mortgage at 6-1/2% interest.
The other styles include one and two-story options. The selling prices range from $92,000 to $122,000.
The homes are certified as
Green Built Michigan and include highly insulated windows, R-40 ceiling and R-19 wall insulation ratings (as opposed to industry standards of 30 and 13, respectively) and high efficiency water heaters, furnaces, lighting systems and plumbing fixtures.
Community First Development, who is building the project in cooperation with McDougall United CDC, estimates that the green aspects of the homes will save buyers 20 to 30% in utility costs.
The homes all include landscaping, a full basement and garage, brick exterior finishes, covered porches, a complete appliance package and fiberglass tubs and showers.
The homes will break ground in September; Community First is currently working with potential buyers and has already secured HOME and other city, state and federal funding necessary to proceed. After ground-breaking, things will move quickly. "We can literally have the home ready for occupancy two to three weeks after we get the home set up on site," says Community First owner Mark Lewis.
For more information, call 866-802-6465 or visit
www.comm1dev.com.
Source: Shawn Torrence and Mark Lewis, Community First
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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