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For Immediate Release | 05.28.24
Press Contact: Department of Strategic Impact | 616-738-4852
West Olive, MI - This is not new news: Ottawa County is facing an ongoing housing crisis. The average sale price of a home is around $400,000, which is more than double what most residents can afford. Because the entry point into homeownership is so expensive, many of Ottawa County’s first-time, prospective homebuyers are remaining in rental units and consequently unable to acquire financial equity. In addition to first-time homebuyers, much of the County’s workforce and retired residents are also impacted by soaring house prices. These members of our community are being forced out of Ottawa County, away from their families, communities, and workplaces, in order to find more affordable housing in neighboring counties.
The Ottawa County Housing Commission (OCHC) remains dedicated to identifying solutions to combat the rising cost of housing in the County. One potential solution is to focus on constructing smaller footprint homes, i.e. the MicroHome. The Commission’s MicroHome Development concept would seek to realistically increase the supply of ‘starter’ homes that are missing from the existing housing ecosystem. “I’ve toured several microhome dwellings that are absolutely stunning at both 600 square feet and 350 square feet; you'd be amazed the potential for emerging young professionals and aging seniors,” stated Paul Sachs, Director of Strategic Impact for Ottawa County. “My first house in Ottawa County was an adorable less than 1,000 square foot single family home. I want my employees, friends, my friends’ kids to all have that opportunity too; it just doesn’t exist anymore.”
The standard American home is 2,800 sq ft on average and has been on a trajectory of increase for many years. At less than 1,000 sq ft, the MicroHome Concept could be a practical and affordable solution to meet the needs of residents today.
In addition to large home sizes, zoning requirements with local jurisdictions can also contribute to current prices for housing. The OCHC intends to facilitate this Project by connecting with local officials to help talk through and overcome zoning and policy barriers that impact cost as well as the ability to construct smaller footprint homes. The OCHC also intends to build support from residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to help advocate for more sustainable workforce housing.
One of the ongoing questions among the Housing Commission is why don’t we have more starter homes being built? “Unfortunately, it’s a common misconception among the general public that smaller homes translate into a lower property value in the surrounding areas. We need to reverse our thinking on this. We need housing stock for the most amount of demand, and that’s folks working in Ottawa County. The MicroHomes project provides an opportunity for home ownership to build equity and grow their financial freedom to realize the American Dream,” commented Jared Schuitema, Local Realtor and Vice-President of the Ottawa County Housing Commission.
If this is a type of home you would want to live in, please visit the following link and let us know!
The ability to scale the MicroHome Concept quickly to meet resident demands for housing is largely dependent on whether high-quality design and construction can be achieved without a reliance on government tax subsidies and/or grants. That is a critical piece of this complex housing supply and demand puzzle that the OCHC is diligently working through.
The Commission has several specific objectives they’d like to accomplish as part of this Pilot Project. These include but are not limited to 1) Build support for the Concept among prospective homebuyers; 2) Solicit partners interested in assisting with a proof-of-concept; 3) Secure local government approvals to allow (by right) for smaller footprint dwellings and well-crafted MicroHome neighborhoods.
Nick Rolinski, local designer based in Holland, MI, has already stepped up to help support the Housing Commission with this undertaking. “MicroHomes, if done correctly, can not only be architecturally appealing but also functional, enduring, and harmonious within the existing fabric of a community and local neighborhood. The OCHC’s goal of operating without reliance on State or Federal subsidies is lofty but healthy, and worth exploring in the spirit of expanding our local wherewithal to respond to housing crisis. Lessons learned through the process can serve housing projects of all scales, while physical results will also change real lives. The effort will require careful and principled design thinking, creativity, collaboration, and advocacy for this kind of housing and place.”
While still in the concept-development phase, the OCHC is diligently preparing a detailed strategy to launch a formal MicroHomes Development project in a local community. A MicroHomes working group will be formed to dedicate time and resources to develop a comprehensive feasibility plan. Helping residents build equity through homeownership is the strategy needed to help everyone flourish. One of the first steps in this endeavor is to garner support from residents who are interested in this type of development.
Your engagement and support are vital to the progression of this project. Please also visit the County Housing Commission’s webpage to keep updated on the latest developments of this project and other efforts that are ongoing and/or in the works.
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