Smith Village update discussed at meeting

Lela McGee-Johnson, spokeswoman for Smith Village Construction Services, was the featured speaker at the Eastside Business Association meeting Jan. 4. The controversial project took over 14 years to complete. It was started originally with an $8 million grant from the federal government but was stalled. The project was restarted in 2010 with stimulus funds from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

Today, of the 25 new homes completed, 15 of the houses have been sold with another four with sales pending. The first homeowner is expected to move in Feb. 1, Johnson said.

Mary Johnson and Shelia Martin, also representing the project, emphasized that a poor credit score would not necessarily prevent a potential home buyer from purchasing a Smith Village house.

"We have programs that help people build their credit ratings," Johnson said.

"This is a mixed-income development," Johnson explained. "A home buyer's income can range from $20,000 to $60,000 annually. Some households can qualify for the city of Flint down payment assistance program," she said.

Three area banks are participating — Chase, Citizens and Fifth-Third.

The homes are three to four bedrooms, ranging from 1,479 to 1,960 square feet, with all appliances and a two-car garage.

A public open house is planned from 1 to 5 p.m. Jan. 15 at the site near North Saginaw Street, two blocks north of the redeveloped Durant and UM-Flint campus.

Walling told the group the Smith Village development is important to the entire region.

"We now have a variety of housing stock, including downtown condos and single-family homes for all incomes," Walling said.

A member asked the mayor if the home buyers would be paying for the water hook-up.

(The city recently spent more than $750,000 for the new water main infrastructure at the site.)

Walling explained that the homeowner is responsible for the hook up from the house to the street.

Some members were critical of spending $200,000 to build a home that is subsidized by the government with a second mortgage that will be forgiven if the homeowner lives in the home for 15 years.

There are still more homes to be built. According to Johnson, 83 houses will be built in Smith Village with construction resuming in the spring.

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In other matters, Raynetta Speed announced a starting and strengthening a block club workshop from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Flint Public Library, Room 205.

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