Former St. Matthew School To Be Repurposed for Affordable Housing
Construction on the former St. Matthew School will begin in the mid-summer. Image courtesy of Steve Palackdharry
Construction work on “The Residences at St. Matthew” is now slated to begin mid-summer. The $20M project will repurpose the St. Matthew School and Activities Building near Harper and Whittier into quality affordable apartments and permanent supportive housing. The buildings have been vacant for over a decade but have been well-maintained and are structurally sound. The project will address the housing and health needs of many in the community.
“I'm excited to see this much needed and productive reuse of two vacant structures that were once important community assets.” said Eric Dueweke, president of the MorningSide Board of Directors. “The project will definitely add value to our surrounding neighborhoods.”
Eric is a member of the project’s Community Engagement Team, which is composed of representatives from nearby community organizations and key project partners. The team meets regularly to provide updates and gather feedback.
The Residences at St. Matthew is a collaborative effort by St. Matthew Parish, Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan (CCSEM), Cinnaire Solutions, Ethos Development Partners, Ascension Michigan, and civic leadership to create a new community resource that helps meet the city’s great need for affordable housing. The property manager for the project will be KMG Prestige.
CCSEM is the lead sponsor for the project and is part of the national Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) network. The Residences at St. Matthew is one of five affordable housing projects initiated by CCUSA in cities around the country. Part of the mission of Catholic Charities, both locally and nationally, is to provide housing solutions for disadvantaged families and individuals.
"The Residences at St. Matthew is, first and foremost, a project that addresses the needs of a diversity of people who at this time find themselves marginalized and simply need a hand up to provide them with a brighter future," said Father Duane Novelly, pastor of St. Matthew.
A total of 46 apartments will be available at The Residences at St. Matthew, consisting of 36 one-bedroom units, 4 two-bedroom units, and 6 studio units. Health services will be provided to tenants through a partnership with Ascension Michigan. The former gymnasium will be converted into a multi-purpose space offering programs and services provided by CCSEM and Ascension Health that will be available to tenants and community residents.
The housing project will be open to all individuals and families who meet income requirements set by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The units are intended for households earning no more than 30%, 50% and 60% of area median income. MSHDA is providing project-based rental subsidies for 25 of the units, as permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless households. The City of Detroit is providing rental subsidy for 7 units. Residents in these units will pay no more than 30% of their income for rent (which includes utilities).
When construction begins, the property management company will start taking inquiries and then open the application process to families and individuals interested in living at The Residences at St. Matthew. The targeted completion date for the project is the end of next year. This schedule could change because of various factors, including funding, permits, and construction timelines.