Contamination Concerns Delay Chelsea's 92-Unit Affordable Housing Project
A proposed development for 92 affordable apartment units in Chelsea, Michigan, is facing delays due to potential methane contamination from a former dump site. The site, located on Old Manchester Road, will undergo testing by developers Spire Development to address contamination concerns.
The project, estimated at $30 million, requires Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), which has currently denied the application due to insufficient environmental review data. Previous investigations indicated contaminants exceeding state standards.
The city is awaiting results from the new testing, which could determine the feasibility of the project. If approved, the apartments would target households earning 30-80% of the area median income. Meanwhile, plans for additional affordable housing projects on city-owned properties are being explored, including the redevelopment of the Rockwell Building for middle-income renters.
