COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The proposed “Lofts at Milnes Plaza” apartment development project in downtown Coldwater has cleared a financial hurdle.
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority has approved just over $990,000 in conditional Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The MSHDA funding was one of the contingencies in the development of the four story, 50 unit project on North Hanchett Street behind the former Taylor’s Stationers Store by Spire Development of Columbus, Ohio.
The final site plan still needs to be approved by the City of Coldwater’s Planning Commission and that maybe a tough sell. The Planning Commission approved a preliminary site plan and a special use permit last February on a close 4-2 vote.
The yes votes that night were cast by Mayor Tom Kramer, Commission Chair Aloha Miller along with board members Dave Rumsey and Jessika Cole. Casting no votes were Aaron Garn and Chris Stephens. Commission members Alan Swain, Maureen Petzko and Charles Bauschard were absent.
The Planning Commission turned down the project last September. But it came back onto the table after the City Council adopted an addition to the city zoning ordinance which would allow multi-family residential uses within the C-2 Central Business District.
While some feel the project will provide affordable housing for the community, others have raised concerns about parking and whether the project will really revitalize downtown Coldwater. A preliminary site plan called for 126 parking spaces as part of the development. Plans also call for 32 of the planned 50 apartment units to have two bedrooms. Eleven others would have one bedroom while the other seven would have three bedrooms.
