MICHIGAN STATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PRESENTS SNOWBERRY HEIGHTS SENIOR BUILDING IN MARQUETTE WITH $8.6 MILLION IN PRESERVATION FUNDING

MARQUETTE – Michael DeVos, Executive Director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) presented a check today at ground breaking ceremonies in the amount of $8,586,916 to several partners who are involved in a limited partnership which was created to preserve and rehabilitate Snowberry Heights, a senior building located in the City of Marquette. Frank Sinito, President of Millenia Housing Development LTD, and managing partner of the partnership accepted the check from DeVos on behalf of the partnership.

Other partners include, the Algonac/Marquette Community Action Board (AMCAB), Great Lakes Capital Fund and the Marquette City Commission, which granted tax abatement for the development.

“Preserving a housing development like Snowberry is important in ensuring that elderly residents in Michigan receive the safe and affordable housing options they require,” said Michael Devos Executive Director of MSHDA. “The partners working together in this preservation effort are experienced and knowledgeable with similar goals in mind of keeping housing decent and affordable for elderly Michigan residents.”

Snowberry Heights, which was originally developed and constructed in 1979, is a MSHDA-financed, federally subsidized senior living development located at 222 S. Fifth Street. The development is a 191-unit eleven-story building, which houses the areas elderly with incomes at or below 60 percent of the areas median income.

“Part of our mission as a Community Action Agency is to provide safe, decent affordable housing for customers in our service area,” said Joe Priante Housing Director for AMCAB. “The purchase of Snowberry Heights under MSHDA’s preservation program not only fits our mission but meets the housing needs of a large number of elderly citizens in the area.”

The rehabilitation of the site will include: new site signage, additional parking, replacement and enhancement of exterior lighting and landscaping to enhance the architecture of the building. Structural rehabilitation will include replacement of all windows. Mechanical rehabilitation will include; upgrades to the elevator cab controls and generators, fire doors and air conditioning sleeves and air conditioning in all units.

Updates will also be made to all common area community rooms, entry doors and stair landings. A security system will also be installed.

The continuing project-based assistance under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract will assure that all households occupying units in the development will meet Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) eligibility requirements under the HCV Program.

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MSHDA is a quasi-state agency that provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve safe and decent affordable housing, engage in community economic development activities, and address homeless issues. MSHDA’s loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds and notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. For more information on MSHDA programs and initiatives, visit the Web site at www.michigan.gov/mshda.