City of Portland – Portland School Apartments Redevelopment Project

Community: City of Portland
Population: 2,500-9,999

City of Portland, Michigan – The revitalization and redevelopment of the former Portland School has brought new life to this local landmark and historic 1919 building. The city was still recovering from the EF-1 tornado that devastated the community in June 2015. The long-time vacant building was facing certain demolition due to its condition, but at the direction of City Council, city staff worked diligently in partnership with the Woda Group to preserve the historic building. The $7.42 million development was made possible through a PILOT approved by the City of Portland, low Income Housing Tax Credits allocated by Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and historic credits from the National Park Service. The result is a new 29-unit affordable community in the restored 1919 school building breathing new life into the former school’s grand Collegiate Gothic architectural features, including the brick and stone work, interior wood flooring, millwork, and more. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Large, historically-accurate windows, contemporary finishes, and many energy-saving features, including Energy Star appliances, are built into the lovely open-concept apartments. Three units are fully handicapped accessible. This project and the success of the Portland school Apartments truly exemplify the importance of intergovernmental cooperation and private-public partnerships.

NPR/WKAR Article:
http://wkar.org/post/historic-portland-school-transformed-affordable-housing#stream/0

Replicability:

The tools are available to all, it’s about vision. As long as there is local support and strong leadership to communicate the importance of preserving historic buildings and the need for affordable housing, this can be a reality for any community. Funding, of course, is the primary challenge in all redevelopment projects. Here, the primary funding mechanisms are available to all –MSHDA Tax Credits, Historic Credits from the National Parks Service and local PILOT approved by governing body.

Creativity and Originality:

Revitalize a 100-year-old former school building into modern affordable housing. While revitalizing older buildings is not unique in and of itself, this project involved a nearly 100-year-old former school that is situated in the center of a residential district having a dramatic impact to the residents, neighbors, and the entire community. It’s also unique that the City of Portland was still recovering and rebuilding from the tornado of 2015 when it was working to get the project off the ground. The timing could not have been better.

Community Impact:

A revitalized building and preserving a window to the past. The project has brought new life to the area and reenergized the neighborhood and reinforced the need for affordable housing. But also, through historic preservation, we preserved a building that has a strong connection to Portland’s past.

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