Al Jones

 

Persistence and prayer make senior housing a reality in Kalamazoo's Northside Neighborhood

Al Jones | Thursday, March 27, 2025
“This is a congregation that said 'yes' to housing and it’s incredible.” — Kalamazoo Vice Mayor Jeanne Hess
A Way Home — Housing Solutions: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave's series on solutions to homelessness and ways to increase affordable housing. It is made possible by a coalition of funders including the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, the ENNA Foundation, Kalamazoo County Land Bank, and LISC.

KALAMAZOO, MI — Need, vision, effort, and prayer appears to be coming together to produce new housing for low- to moderate-income seniors in Kalamazoo’s Northside Neighborhood.
 
After nearly seven years of planning, ground was broken on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 for the development of Legacy Senior Living, a 70-unit affordable apartment complex for people age 55 or older.
 
The $27 million project will put back into use several vacant land parcels between the 100-block of East Frank Street and the 100-block of East North Street. “And with this development, seniors will have a welcoming place that they can call home,” said the Rev. Addis Moore.
 
With a smile to replace the furrowed brow that came with months of wading through red tape, shepherding real estate concerns, waiting for bureaucratic decisions to be made, and jumping all the hurdles necessary to make it happen, the senior pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church was ready for a sunny day to celebrate the start of project.
 
Al Jones“We had to stick with it,” he said before members of Mt. Zion’s musical Praise Team made Wednesday’s event a much livelier occasion than most urban ground-breaking ceremonies. More than 200 people attended the event.
 
“There was so much stuff that we didn’t know,” Moore said, “that we had to rely on others to share that with us. A lot of people are not privy to the information you need to know to do something like this.”
 
Speaking of the many years the church has amassed land in the neighborhood with an eye toward redevelopment, Moore said, “This is like a 20-year vision coming to reality.
 
The Legacy Senior Living project involves the construction of two, three-story buildings:
 
-A 36-unit northern building at 128 E Frank St. – It will have 34 one-bedroom units and 2, two-bedroom units. The building will have a community room, a beauty salon, and an outdoor gathering space. Financed with 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credits, it will be built to Passive House sustainability standards for energy efficiency and lower energy costs.
 
-A 34-unit southern building at 127 E North St. – It will have 32 one-bedroom units and 2 two-bedroom units. The building will feature a library, a puzzle room,
and a three-season porch. It will be financed with 4 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credits.
 
Al JonesMt. Zion's new Legacy Senior Living development is a $27 million project that wil provide 70 energy-efficient and affordable apartment units for people age 55 and older.An early estimate of rental rates of a one-bedroom unit was $243 to $975 per month (including utilities) depending on the income of the tenant. With government subsidies and tax credits, the complex is expected to accommodate income-qualified individuals who have as little as $15,000 in annual income.
 
The project is expected to be completed in the next 17 to 18 months.
 
“There is a desperate need for housing, and decent affordable housing -- particularly in Kalamazoo’s older neighborhoods,” said Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson.
 
Anderson was among several local and state officials to attend Wednesday’s groundbreaking. Others included Michigan Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) Michigan Rep. Julie Rogers (D-41st District), and a representative from the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
 
Al JonesKalamazoo Mayor David Anderson praised Mt. Zion Baptist Church's efforts to bring more needed housing to Kalamazoo. He spoke on Wednessday, March 26, 2025 at the groundbreaking ceremony for the church's new Legacy Senior Living project.There is such a great need for affordable housing that, Jason Muniz, senior project developer with Edison Community Partners, said, he feels compelled to be involved.” Edison Community Partners is partnering with Mt. Zion, architectural/engineering firm Abonmarche Byce, residential and commercial developer AVB, and others to develop the project.
Edison is a minority-owned real estate development firm focused on “creating high-quality, affordable housing that strengthens communities and improves lives,” according to information provided by the company. It is an affiliate of Portage-based Hollander Development Corp., which has created residential and mixed-used projects in many other places to serve low-income and workforce income households. That includes The Creamery, a 48-unit affordable housing and business development at Portage and Lake Streets in Kalamazoo’s Edison Neighborhood.
 
Clarence Lloyd, vice president of Southwest Michigan First and executive director of the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce, described the new project as a significant milestone for the community and said he appreciates the expertise of Abonmarche Byce and AVB because they have been involved in other affordable housing projects. But he also noted that “Mt. Zion Baptist Church’s leadership in this effort is truly exceptional, demonstrating their deep commitment to investing in people in a meaningful way.”
 
Muniz has said, “This project is not only a commitment to affordable housing but also to environmental sustainability. By combining affordability, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, we believe that the Legacy Senior Living will set a new standard for senior living in Kalamazoo and beyond.”
 
Al JonesFirst Lady Gwendolyn Moore joins Pastor Addis Moore as he comments on the development of Mt. Zion Baptist Church's Senior Legacy Senior Living project on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.He and Moore thanked a long list of city, county and state officials, as well as housing, planning, architectural, and construction professionals for their involvement with the project. Mt. Zion and Edison Community Partners have been able to secure Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, administered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and federal America Rescue Plan Act funding. According to information provided by Edison Community Partners, the project was also made possible with funding from the Kalamazoo County Homes for All millage, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the City of Kalamazoo, and other partners.
 
The City of Kalamazoo is also allowing the project to proceed off the general tax roles, with a PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) agreement.
 
Al JonesRev. Addis Moore, senior pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, stands with First Lady Gwendolyn Moore, Assistant Pastor Christopher Moore, and First United Baptist Church Pastor Lenzy Bell. Moore said property acquisitions and donations of property from church members over the years allowed it to accumulate the land that is being used for the project. It is between East Frank Street and East North Street, adjacent to North Burdick Street and the Ecumenical Senior Center.
 
Mt. Zion Baptist Church is about two blocks north of the location, at 120 Roberson St.
 
“This is faith in action,” Kalamazoo Vice Mayor Jeanne Hess said. “This is a congregation that said yes to housing and it’s incredible. Look at the energy here. Look at the people here. Look at the joy here. This is amazing.”
 
Moore described the development as a situation where faith meets action.
 
“Where faith meets action, love fuels transformation,” he said. “… As a community, we’re not just building homes, but we’re building a legacy of care and dignity. This development is dedicated to our beloved seniors in one of the most underserved neighborhoods in our community. It’s a living example of what the gospel calls us to do – to love our neighbor as ourselves.”

Al JonesMt. Zion's new Legacy Senior Living development is being built on land that Mt. Zion Baptis Church has acquired in the 100 block of east Frank Street (just east of Burdick Street) in Kalamazoo's Northside Neighborhood.

Read more articles by Al Jones.

Al Jones is a freelance writer who has worked for many years as a reporter, editor, and columnist. He is the Project Editor for On the Ground Kalamazoo.
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