Emmet County is currently facing a housing shortage of over 3,000 units, according to a study from Bowen National Research.
But one local organization is working to address the housing gap through a project that would add 60 new units in Petoskey.
The Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation recently started constructing an apartment building, known as the Lofts at Lumber Square, that could potentially house 165 people.
The organization hopes the new additions will help local businesses find a place for their employees to live.
David Jones, executive director of the foundation, said that while the project is a step in the right direction, the need for housing in the community will continue to grow.
“You know you think about the impact of having those employees in town, helping with the workforce, I think that the economic benefit is going to be tremendous,” he said. “We're seeing more people move to the area, good job creation, but with job creation comes, you know, the need for housing.”
Following the project, Jones said the organization hopes to continue to provide resources to support the housing needs in the region. The apartments are expected to open mid 2025.
Editor's note: In the interest of transparency, we note that the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation was a winner of WCMU's Giving Tuesday challenge.
