In a notable move by the University of Michigan Health Sparrow, colloquially known as Sparrow Hospital, a total of nine vacant homes and surrounding land in Lansing's east side are being handed off for a token sum to be redeveloped for residential use. According to CBS Detroit, Sparrow Hospital, which has been a staple on Michigan Avenue for over a century, acquired the properties as precaution for potential expansion. However, plans have shifted towards contributing to the neighborhood's revitalization.
With a stark shortage of housing units across the state, the Ingham County Land Bank and Habitat for Humanity Capital Region are receiving these properties - once considering a future hospital expansion, but now awaited to welcome new residents as refurbished homes. "It's the right thing to do for the neighbors," said Margaret Dimond, President of UM Health West Region, highlighting the decision's impact on local housing availability in a statement obtained by WILX. The homes, currently described as 'dilapidated', are set for renovation starting this spring with eyes on a 2025 market return.
The move, considered a windfall for the community, captivates local and statewide attention as Michigan grapples with a significant housing shortage. The intent to create single-family homes from these donated structures is underscored by a push to foster owner occupancy and community engagement. Brent Taylor, CEO and President of Habitat for Humanity Capital Region, acknowledged this collaboration's potential to fuel ongoing housing initiatives. "Not only helps in terms of what we sell the homes for," he told WILX, indicating a strategy for sustainable community development.
Renewed focus on community enhancement is punctuated by concerns over past vandalism and squatters, with Sparrow Hospital properties reportedly drawing nearly two police reports weekly. Seeking to shoulder its neighborhood responsibility, Sparrow Hospital's reallocation of these properties also comes with an eye towards safety enhancements. As revealed during a Wednesday presentation by Dimond, renovating these homes will be partly funded by a state blight elimination fund, accentuating the projects' feasibility despite the homes languishing in neglected conditions, as reported by Lansing State Journal.
The broad community support for the project shines through in the local residents' reactions. Neighborhood associations, acknowledging the evolution from potential demolishing to rejuvenation of these structures, welcome the initiative. Margaret Tassaro, president of the Eastfield neighborhood association, posited that welcoming families and individuals alike to the community aligns with the area's values, as reported by WILX. This sentiment echoes the overarching objective of these contributions: to create viable, affordable, and safe living spaces that cater to a diverse populace, while aiming to reduce the housing shortage strain felt across Lansing and Michigan at large.
