When the city of Ann Arbor closes on the sale of the old Y-lot $600,000 dollars will be transferred to the Ann Arbor Housing Commission to help finance renovations at the organizations five largest properties. The projects are the first of the commission’s properties to transition from traditional public housing to a voucher based program.
In 2015 the goal is to level and replace the North Maple Estates project. According to Housing Commission Executive Director Jennifer Hall site issues combined with the conditions of the buildings made new construction the best option. Most of the buildings have had flooding issues because of the site lay-out, as well as plumbing problems.
Hall thinks residents will save money as a result of all of the upgrades. That’s because the new buildings will be more energy efficient.
Hall says the residents will be given section eight vouchers when the site is torn-down, and get first choice of returning when the new units are complete.
North Maple Estates is located just north of Dexter Avenue.
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— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.