When it comes to buying or building a house in Michigan's Great Southwest, preferences and reinvestment potential are critical to the success of the entire marketplace. Housing in turn plays a critical role in the eventual economic development of a community. That's why Team Kinexus has been studying the market for the past year to determine housing preferences in all eight counties of Southwest Michigan. Now, they are ready to unveil the research and discuss it with the community at large.
The team of change agents have undertaken a Residential Target Market Analysis project over the past year to analyze the housing market, development and reinvestment potential, and housing preferences across the region. To showcase the results and discuss what the data shows, Kinexus will host three public forums ranging from June 26th through July 3rd to take up the results.
The project was designed to give each municipality a better way to find solutions to support the types and forms of housing likely to be supported in each community. Armed with the data, the hope is for more logical solutions going forward. Solutions that can be embraced by the people of each community. Sharon Woods of Lansing-based LandUseUSA will conduct the forums in partnership with the team at Kinexus.
Todd Gustafson, CEO at Kinexus says, “It is important to understand regional housing trends and preferences to provide targeted economic development activities for local communities.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Simpson, Community Development Division Director at Kinexus says, “These public forums will provide valuable information about local housing preferences, as well as individual municipalities’ ability to accommodate these preferences.” He notes, “Municipal officials who deal with civic zoning and ordinances will find this information illuminating, as will local business owners, residents, realtors, and developers.”
There is no cost to attend these forums and members of the public are welcome. Anybody with questions or those looking to RSVP for one of the study sessions, can contact Ryan Simpson at 269.927.1064, x1175, or simpsonr@kinexus.org.
Simpson says, “Local housing stock must reflect an area’s demand.” As he puts it, “A mismatch between these two factors stunts local economic growth. Municipalities must understand local preferences not only to cater to current residents, but to attract new employers to the area and ensure civic vitality.”
The meeting locations and times are listed below:
Wednesday, June 29th — 3:00pm – 5:00pm.
Niles Fire Department Council Chamber
1345 E. Main St.
Niles, MI 49120
City Contact: Sanya Phillips, Community Development Director
(269) 683-4700
Thursday, June 30th — 10:00am – 12:00pm.
Marshall Regional Law Enforcement Center
323 W. Michigan Ave.
Marshall, MI 49068
City Contact: Tom Tarkiewicz, City Manager
(269) 781-5183
Thursday, July 7th — 10:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m.
Coldwater Hospital Conference Center
370 E. Chicago St.
Coldwater, MI 49036
City Contact: Kieth Baker, Community Services Director and Deputy City Manager
(517) 279-9501
Kinexus is a nonprofit organization that invests millions in funding each year in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties through integrated business, workforce, and community development. Learn more at Kinexus.org.
