Council approves limited waiver for 28 North Saginaw Brownfield deal after negotiating payment plan language

City Council voted to grant a partial waiver of three provisions of Pontiac’s Community Benefits Ordinance to allow the 28 North Saginaw housing conversion to proceed through the Oakland County Brownfield Authority review. Manager Deborah Younger and developer representatives said the 114‑unit project can meet the ordinance’s permanent job and affordable housing provisions (they proposed 70 units at 80–120% AMI tiers) but cannot provide an immediate upfront cash contribution or satisfy construction‑jobs requirements because the project is already in active construction and lacks near‑term cash flow.

Younger told council the project “does not cash flow till year 20” under current projections, a common situation in affordable housing deals, and estimated the community benefit obligation would total roughly $50,000–$75,000 based on final project costs. Council members pressed for enforceable terms and payment timing; after debate they amended the waiver resolution to remove an upfront‑monetary waiver and to eliminate authorization for the mayor to execute the community benefit agreement immediately. The council directed administration to negotiate a deferred monthly payment plan commencing after permanent financing stabilizes (administration suggested second quarter 2027 as a potential start) and to bring the written agreement back for council approval.

The final amended waiver passed (6 yays, 1 nay). Council members said they supported the project’s downtown housing and reuse but wanted clearer written commitments and enforceable terms. Administration said the Brownfield Authority asked for council’s waiver input before its Feb. 17 meeting; the community benefit agreement will return to council for final concurrence.