New affordable senior housing development in Ypsi seeks to “cultivate a whole new community”

On Sept. 10, developer Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC) hosted an open house at the Residences at Huron, an affordable senior housing development it recently opened at 945 W. Clark Rd. in Ypsilanti. The development is reserved for people over 55 whose annual income falls below a threshold, ranging from $52,920 for a one-person household to $75,540 for a four-person household. Sixty-two of the Residences at Huron’s 152 one- and two-bedroom units are now occupied.

In addition to living space, the Residences at Huron offer a variety of ways for residents to connect with each other. The development includes a pool, pickleball court, library, media room, and community meeting space. Property management staff host events like bingo, card game, and movie nights, as well as health programming including physical therapy.

“[Residents] are making friends,” says CJ McLaughlin, community manager at the Residences at Huron. “… There’s a sense of a restart for some folks. A lot of folks are downsizing, getting to rebuild their community and make new friends. It’s very rewarding to watch that.”

One of those residents is Theresa McCullough. She’s lived in the area for 50 years and says she’s encouraged several of her friends to join her at the Residences at Huron. McCullough says the space is “curated” for people over 55.

“I love living over here,” she says. “I like the fact that it’s easy to get along with the people. There’s activities and events for the seniors, a variety of activities. The apartment I live in is so nice. … I’ve never lived in a place with a community space like this.”

Resident Candy Jones agrees. She has lived in the area for 67 years, primarily in Ann Arbor. She chose to live at the Residences at Huron because it was affordable but still close to the people she knows in Ann Arbor.

“Now I wouldn’t go back to Ann Arbor for nothing,” she says.

McLaughlin says he and his coworkers want to help more people find homes at the Residences at Huron. He emphasizes that many residents use housing vouchers to pay for their units.

“My team is gonna work with you no matter what the challenges are,” he says. “A lot of residents struggle with getting approved and we’ll help you with that. There’s a huge opportunity to cultivate a whole new community.”