Developer proposes 46-unit mixed-income housing on former Monroe fire station at 75 Scott Street

Woda Cooper Companies told the Monroe City Council in a work‑session presentation that it plans to redevelop the former central fire station at 75 Scott Street and the adjacent parking lot at 60 Wadsworth Street into a three‑story, elevator‑served apartment building with 46 units, roughly split between 23 one‑bedroom and 22 two‑bedroom units.

Matt Vanesacker, deputy director of economic and community development and neighborhood services coordinator with the City of Monroe, introduced the package and said staff reissued a request for proposals after several developers expressed interest. A Woda Cooper representative described the firm’s portfolio and said the proposal responds to the city’s housing plan and MSHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority) scoring priorities.

The developer outlined amenities that would include a community room with kitchenette, rooftop terrace, fitness center, common laundry, playground, bike racks, a property manager’s office and the possibility of street‑front retail and a community mural. Financial projections presented by the team showed preliminary gross rents in a broad range ($512–$1,012 for one‑bedroom units; $615–$1,264 for two‑bedroom units) tied to use of the federal Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit program administered by the state.

On financing, the developer said tax credit equity would provide the largest portion of funding (presented as approximately $13.4 million), alongside a permanent mortgage and a deferred developer fee, producing an estimated total development cost of about $14.0 million. The team said it would likely seek a payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILOT) agreement tied to net rental income — typically described by the developer as a percentage (the presentation used 4% as an example) — during an initial 15‑year compliance period under LIHTC rules.

Woda Cooper named a local partner (MCOP) as co‑developer and said it plans to set aside at least seven units for veterans and to provide on‑site supportive services for set‑aside units. The firm described local hiring and marketing plans and said it screens applicants through an internal credit and criminal committee to support stable occupancy.

Council members questioned unit amenities and tenant requalification; developers said units would feature standard appliance packages and central air, there would be a common laundry and that tenants qualify at move‑in and are not evicted solely because their income increases later. Staff and the developer emphasized the competitive nature of the MSHDA Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and said the developer’s application must be complete by Oct. 1, 2025, or it risks being ineligible for the current funding round.

City staff advised that the project will require an amendment to the existing Planned Unit Development (PUD) and said they expect the Citizens Planning Commission to review the request in September. To meet the tax‑credit schedule, staff proposed a special council meeting on Sept. 29 to consider preliminary plan/site plan approval and a PILOT agreement so the developer can meet tight application deadlines. Staff also noted an interdependent purchase and lease agreement with Monroe County for the adjacent 60 Wadsworth parking lot to secure site control.

Next steps: the developer will prepare third‑party reports (environmental, market studies), submit an application to MSHDA, seek city approvals for PUD/site plan adjustments and request a PILOT; the council scheduled internal steps and a possible special meeting to enable the timeline.