Lenny Avery

ALPENA – The Alpena Township Board of Trustees, received an update on housing and what can be done to add to the housing inventory in the area at its monthly meeting Monday night.

Among old business on the agenda was the fire department’s agreement with Maple Ridge Township.

Township Fire Chief Tim Baker told the trustees that Maple Ridge Township received the contract documents and he is waiting for a response. Maple Ridge can either choose to renew the contract or renegotiate it. Baker said he expects a response by the next board meeting.

Next on the agenda was an unpaid special assessment regarding vacant county owned land parcels within the township.

Lenny Avery, executive director for Target Alpena, appeared before the board and updated the board on what Target has accomplished locally and what it hopes to achieve under his leadership. Avery said buying vacant land parcels via grants and rehabbing properties can turn them into homes for the community and help tackle the housing crisis in Northeast Michigan.

“It keeps getting harder each generation to buy a home. We are here to help. Particularly those blue collar families,” Avery said. “Those that are willing and able to help us build their home. We call it sweat equity. Making it more affordable and decreasing some of your expenses by doing the work yourself.”

Max Lindsay, president of the board for Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan, provided an update to the trustees after Avery. He distributed packets to the trustees with information about the recently completed homes on Bedford Street in Alpena.

“We acquired those properties on Bedford through the land bank. It was the first time we were able to purchase parcels so close to each other,” he said. “That neighborhood now looks completely different with those new homes.”

Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan also purchased land in Hillman and hopes to do the same in Rogers City in the future.

“We purchased 20 acres of land in Hillman and we have an agreement in place with Rogers City for another 20 acres.” Lindsay said.

Lindsay also mentioned he is hoping to close on additional properties in the near future and turn it into badly needed housing.

“We are hoping to build 10 new homes next year. Housing costs have continued to skyrocket. Enough is enough. It’s time we let everyone in the pool,” he said.

When addressing the need to do something with these vacant land parcels, trustee Russ Rhynard said those involved need to do what it takes to cut through red tape and free the property easier to acquire.

“We have to get these properties unstuck from whatever they are stuck to,” Rhynard said.

The board then voted to approve a motion to waive any unpaid assessments on seven different land parcels in the township.