Hope Network, a nonprofit headquartered in Grand Rapids, transformed the school into an affordable housing community for seniors age 55 and older.

Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting event featured Hope Network leaders Anthony Barker, executive director of housing and community development, and Hope Network President and CEO Bob Von Kaenel, as well as remarks from Alpena Mayor Cindy Johnson, Huntington Bank NMI Market President Nick Florian, and Marsha Woodworth, regional property manager for KMG Prestige Management Company.

“On behalf of the City of Alpena, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the official grand opening of Bingham Apartments,” Johnson said. “Bingham School was completed in 1936, with an estimated cost of $180,000.”

She gave a brief history and added that the school was named after Moses Bingham, one of Alpena’s earliest settlers and the owner of the first hotel in the area.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Bingham Apartments is open inside the historic Bingham School at 555 S. 5th Ave. in Alpena.

Johnson said the school served as an elementary school until its closure in 1982.

“It briefly reopened as a charter school from 2004 to 2015,” Johnson said. “And then it sat vacant until now. We are thrilled that Hope Network saw the potential in this historic structure and brought it back to life through adaptive use. At a time when many communities across the country, including Alpena, are facing challenges with affordable housing, this project offers a thoughtful and meaningful solution. The Bingham Apartments not only provide much-needed housing, but they do it while preserving the rich history and character of this beloved building.”

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, members of the public were able to take tours of the building to see some of the changes, and notice some aspects of the building that remain similar to what they may remember from attending school there.

Judy Reimann attended kindergarten, first and second grades at Bingham School, starting in 1947.

“Then I moved over to McPhee School and came back here for seventh and eighth grade,” Reimann said at Tuesday’s grand opening event, which was held in the gymnasium area of the building.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Bob Von Kaenel, president and CEO of Hope Network, speaks to attendees on Tuesday at the Bingham Apartments grand opening ceremony.

“I’m just looking at this gym, here,” Reimann said. “We used to come down here, and another friend and I used to stand in the middle of this court and shoot baskets.”

She added that the addition with the two-bedroom apartments was fun to see as she recalls fond memories of using that area as a playground, playing kickball and other games.

Reimann said she is “so glad that they were able to renovate the building for such a worthwhile cause.”

Lois Hall attended Bingham School in kindergarten and first grade.

“I remember sitting up there for ball games,” Hall said, pointing to the bleacher area in the gym.

Hall added that turning it into senior apartments is a good use of such a historic Alpena building.

The Bingham School building was erected in 1936 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. Many key architectural features, including the original halls and floorways, have been preserved.

“This has to be one of the most unique and exciting projects we’ve been involved with in our 60-year history,” said Von Kaenel. “To take a facility like this that was long vacant, a place that was filled with lots of memories, milestones, and moments of success, and preserve its history … is very special.”

The fully-renovated 35-unit facility is fully occupied, providing affordable housing for local seniors with limited incomes. The 46,000-square-foot complex features 29 one-bedroom units and six two-bedroom units.

In partnership with Huntington Bank and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Hope Network purchased the property in February 2024 and invested approximately $19 million in a full renovation. Nineteen units were renovated from the original school, while another 16 were newly constructed as part of an addition.

The need for affordable housing in Michigan is critical. According to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the state is facing a shortage of 140,000 housing units to meet the demand. The ongoing housing crisis has been exacerbated by rising construction and rental costs, high interest rates, and a significant gap between what Michigan families earn and the cost of housing.

Construction and renovation of Bingham Apartments began in April 2024, led by DeStigter Architecture. Supported by Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), rents are set at 30% to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Bingham Apartments exceeds Fair Housing Act and Section 504 accessibility standards, with all units meeting visitable design requirements, 31 units classified as barrier-free Type-B, and four as fully barrier-free Type-A. One unit is also equipped for hearing and visually impaired residents.

Reach News Community Editor Darby Hinkley at 989-358-5691 or dhinkley@TheAlpenaNews.com.