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County updates public on conversion of Country Inn into transitional family shelter, seeks RFP reviewers
Summary
Housing Director Mary Baukema updated the board on the county's purchase of the Country Inn & Suites and plans to convert it to a transitional family shelter named The Landing Place; staff asked for two commissioners to serve on the RFP selection committee for service providers and outlined outstanding renovation costs and fundraising efforts.
Kalamazoo County staff reported progress April 1 on a project to convert the recently purchased Country Inn & Suites into a transitional family shelter dubbed The Landing Place.
Housing Director Mary Baukema told commissioners the county closed on the hotel March 4 and has contracted an architect/engineer for site plan and design work. Staff identified necessary upgrades not included in the purchase price — a larger kitchen and dining area, additional office space for facility staff, pool-area redesign to create a childcare room, and landscaping work required for city site-plan approval. Fire-suppression, a perimeter fence and playground work were among the items included in the purchase.
Baukema said the county published an RFP for a shelter service provider on March 17 with proposals due April 21 and asked that two commissioners volunteer to join the selection committee to review and score responses. The county’s public-information officer, Taylor Koopman, has produced a project website and branding for the shelter; staff plan a press release and a site-specific page for updates and myth-vs-fact information about sheltering and affordable housing.
On fundraising, Baukema said county staff are exploring a community-collaborative account with United Way of South Central Michigan and Kalamazoo Community Foundation. She reported the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation will consider a $300,000 grant on May 20 and the county has applied to Kalamazoo Community Foundation for $175,000 per year over three years to support operations. Baukema said county staff are using a design firm to produce branding and signage; the project’s logo and sign mockups were shown to commissioners.
Outreach and next steps: staff will continue site-plan work with the City of Kalamazoo, hold a selection process for a service provider and present fundraising updates to the board as proposals and grants are finalized. Commissioners were asked to notify the county administrator if they wish to serve on the RFP selection committee.
Ending: Baukema said the website will go live the day after the meeting, and the county will present further updates as the procurement and renovation processes advance.
