84-unit housing project approved in Hudsonville

Real Estate

May 6

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners at their April 22 meeting approved a brownfield tax increment financing plan to help support the redevelopment of a nearly seven-acre Hudsonville site into a townhome community.

The project proposal for The Landings at Rush Creek, submitted by Hudsonville-based real estate developer and management company LaCati Group, would bring 84 one-bedroom townhomes to a long-vacant site at 6365 Balsam Drive on the northeast side of Hudsonville. 12 of these units will be reserved for income-qualified households, four capped at 80 percent of area median income (AMI), and eight at 90 percent AMI - currently $64,800 for one person, $74,070 for two people.

With approval from the City of Hudsonville, review by the Ottawa County Brownfield Development Authority, and support from the County Board of Commissioners, all that remains is an official endorsement from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

"Every community has different housing needs," said Becky Huttenga, Ottawa County Economic Development Coordinator. "Housing TIF can be effective because it's easily customizable. This flexibility puts the municipality in the driver's seat."

The Landings at Rush Creek would provide one-bedroom townhomes with attached garages that is missing from the Hudsonvillle area. Although the city has recently approved multiple multi-family apartment buildings and mixed-use structures, including Hudsonville Flats, Terra Station, and Prospect Flats, rowhouse-style communities haven't been in the mix.

"Smaller, well-constructed, and attainable housing units are necessary and fulfill a very real need but can't be the only solution. Many young professionals, as well as people looking to downsize, find rowhouse-style living more attractive," said Tyler Dotson, Hudsonville City Manager. "Local business leaders have requested this type of workforce housing, and The Landings will deliver."

"Hudsonville and neighboring communities wanted something that would blend better with the existing housing inventory," said Chad Cassiday, President, LaCati Group. "The Landings ... has two-story versus three-story structures, attached garages versus lighted surface parking lots; this gives the project a more neighborhood feel."

Other features planned for the community include a lake feature on the west end with a walking trail with access to regional bike trails and a community garden.