News Photo by Temi Fadayomi Lenny Avery, the economic development coordinator for the Alpena Chamber of Commerce, gives his presentation on Land Banks to the Apena Municipal Council during their special meeting held at JJ’s Steak & Pizza on Tuesday.

ALPENA — A potential solution to housing issues in Alpena was introduced at a special meeting for council members on Thursday. Members from all local governments attended the meeting, which happens three times a year and is also open to the public. Lenny Avery, the economic development coordinator for the Alpena Chamber of Commerce presented all in attendance with the Northeastern Michigan Housing Alliances Regional Housing Plan.

One of the main topics of Avery’s presentation was manufactured homes and how they could serve as a possible answer to housing shortages in the region.

“We have been building homes the same way for over 150 years,” said Avery. “There’s other ways to do housing, so we want to talk about what this new home market is and what this whole new home ability is.”

Another topic that Avery presented to the board was the use of landbanks.

Avery explained to the council how a land grant worked and how it could be used to eliminate blight in the various townships which would open up room for manufactured housing, which could be taxed and used as a way to bring revenue to the area.