An apartment complex is set to replace a fire-damaged Ypsilanti building near downtown; The city’s Historic District Commission signed off on tearing down the building to pave the way for 22 affordable one-bedroom units in the development. 

The city has chosen Avalon Housing, a nonprofit developer in Ann Arbor, to carry out the project’s vision at 206-210 North Washington Street. 

The structure has elements that date back to about 1860. After a fire occurred in the building in 2017 and continual degradation, it’s time that the city takes action.

“The historic district is not a museum, it’s not an attempt to have a little Disney World where we keep everything in a particular state,” Alex Pettit, Commission Chair, said.

In their Tuesday, March 21 meeting, city leaders approved $2.38 million in the form of a tax break over 50 years to support the units in the development.

Eight units will be marketed towards households making below 30% of the area median income, with project-based vouchers to assure affordability for extremely low-income people. According to city documents, the other 14 units will target households with incomes below 50% or 60% of the area median income.

Some of the units are set to become supportive housing, providing built-in services like medical care, job training, and transportation for vulnerable residents, like people coming out of homelessness.

City leaders voted 5-1 to approve the first reading. It will return for a second and final reading at the council’s Tuesday meeting on April 4.

If they receive the state tax credit they applied for, Avalon developers hope to close on the property by the end of the year and hit the ground with the development in early 2024, according to Avalon developer Michael Appel.

“There’s a lot of possibilities, a lot of dreams, a lot of things that people would love to see happen,” Pettit said. “But those are dreams. Those aren’t real, and we’ve got something real in front of us.”

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