Construction is underway again at the Grand Traverse Commons Building 50, the former Traverse City State Hospital. By summer, a section of the building's north wing should be home to 39 affordable apartments.
Mike Jacobson of LC Entities says these apartments will be similar to condos in other parts of the building, with high ceilings and large, historic windows.
"So we think they'll be really great examples of urban rehabilitation and urban living," he says.
The company is not taking formal reservations for apartments yet, but already there's a waiting list of folks who are interested.
The apartments will be rented to people who earn roughly $20,000 to $30,000 dollars a year. Rents, including utilities, will run from $500 dollars a month to $715 dollars a month. Price depends on apartment size and family income.
This will be the first official affordable housing project at the Grand Traverse Commons, and developers say it's always been the plan to have a variety of price points in the historic structure.
"You know, any healthy neighborhood has to have a certain level of diversity," says Raymond Minervini, the younger. He's with the Minervini Group. "This isn't a gated community that is just one type of occupant and one type of owner. Its kind-of like a slice of Traverse City as a whole."
Minervini says he hopes more Munson hospital workers will be able to live within walking distance to work.