U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Community Planning and Development
Consolidated Plan Contact
CITIZEN'S SUMMARY
The City of Lansing is the lead agency responsible for coordinating the Consolidated
Planning and Submission Process. In the development of the Consolidated Plan, the City
incorporated other planning efforts and strategic planning documents including the Lansing
Housing Partnership (LHP), Comprehensive Housing Affordable Strategy(CHAS), and the
Enterprise Community (EC). Housing and non-housing issues were addressed during these
planning processes.
Action Plan
Partnerships have been developed among state and local agencies in efforts to identify the
type of housing and community development needs existing in Lansing. In addition to the
many agencies involved in the CHAS and EC process, the City consulted with more than 40
agencies to develop the Consolidated Plan. In the development of this Plan, the City kept in
mind the 3 basic goals of the program: (1) To provide decent housing; (2) To provide a
suitable living environment, and; (3) To expand economic opportunities.
Citizen Participation
Active citizen participation was an important factor in the development of the Consolidated
Plan. The City's citizen participation process comprehensively examined needs related to
housing and non-housing community development needs related to economic development,
infrastructure and needs related to the human and social environment. The objective was to
formulate strategies and programs to address identified needs in carrying out the
Consolidated Plan.
COMMUNITY PROFILE
The City of Lansing is the State Capitol of Michigan. The City is characteristic of older
central cities located in growing metropolitan areas. The oldest homes and neighborhoods
are located in North Lansing, the central part of the community and on the west side of
town near the downtown area and State Capitol. Some redevelopment has taken place in
the oldest areas of the City in recent years with old dilapidated structures replaced with
new apartment and townhouse rental units. Lansing is also characteristic of old urban cities
in that as part of the metropolitan area it is surrounded on all sides by growing incorporated
townships. The population of Lansing in 1990 was 127,000 and has decreased slightly in
each of the decades between 1970 and 1990. Compared with other major cities in
Michigan, this decline is considered modest and even though the population has decreased,
the number of households in the City has increased in the past two decades. Affordable
housing is available for households with modest incomes and is attractive to young families
and first time homebuyers.
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS
Housing Conditions
The slow growth in the Nation's economy has been felt in Lansing. Social service agencies
and housing providers report large increases in demand for safe and sanitary affordable
housing and supportive services. Basic needs assistance programs that provide funds to
assist very low income households have been cut back. The median age of the population
has increased from 25 years in 1980 to 30 years in 1990. The number of elderly
individuals has increased by 6% over the last decade and now represent over 10% of the
population.
Housing Needs
Some of the specific housing needs include:
- Preserve existing housing stock.
- Finding alternative uses of vacant land for the benefit of the neighborhood.
- Promoting infill housing as an alternative where appropriate.
- Providing diverse housing opportunities and housing care programs.
- Provide affordable housing for low and moderate income families.
Market Conditions
Lansing currently has about 54,000 housing units. The number of units has increased only
3.8% since 1980 due to a combination of factors:
- Construction of new units has slowed as land resources in the City diminish.
- Consumer preference has grown for larger residential lots, open space and suburban
atmosphere.
- A significant number of substandard or dilapidated housing units in the City have been
removed.
- Public and private redevelopment projects have resulted in the removal of some housing units.
- New housing construction formally financed through State and Federal programs have
slowed as funding levels has been reduced.
Homeless Needs
A special committee study of the 1990 census information relative to the homeless
population indicated that there are about 500 homeless individuals in the City. However, it
is understood that because of the dynamics associated with counting the homeless, it is not
possible to present a total picture. The demand for shelter and services for the homeless is
a constant challenge and often exceeds available resources. A single indicator that stays in
facilities are lengthening as individuals take longer to find more permanent
housing.
Public and Assisted Housing Needs
The Lansing Housing Commission manages 935 units of public housing, 1/3 of which are on
scattered sites. All of these units have renovated or improved over the last 10 years. No
loss in the total number of these units are contemplated. As of October, 1994, there were
433 names on the waiting list for public housing units.
The Commission reports there are 222 names on the waiting list for assisted housing under
the Section 8 assistance program. The demand for Section 8 assistance is likely to remain
high and grow in the next five years given the significant number of low income households
in Lansing that currently pay more than 30% of their household income for housing.
Barriers to Affordable Housing
The Housing Affordability Committee of the Lansing Housing Partnership identified public
policy barriers as (1) Building and Housing Codes, (2) Planning and Zoning, and (3) Zoning
Code. These barriers revolve around prescriptive code standards, inspection fees and repair
costs that prohibit using houses built before the 1930s for legal living spaces. Other
barriers are identified as non-housing(site) development costs that are passed onto the
home buyer. Many structures are also being removed by business owners and developers
who want to expand non-residential uses.
Fair Housing
The common belief among state and local officials involved in addressing fair housing
problems is that individuals are reluctant to undertake the rather time-consuming effort to
file formal housing discrimination complaints. The Lansing City Council adopted a revised
Fair Housing Ordinance that prohibits discrimination in real estate transactions involving
housing accommodations. In many cases the City, State and non-profit agency is able to
reconcile a housing problem before a formal complaint is filed.
Lead-Based Paint
The age of housing in Lansing establishes the potential for environmental problems related
to lead based paint. About 91% of the housing units in the City were constructed prior to
1979 and the likelihood that lead based paint exists in many of Lansing's homes is of
particular concern for very low and low income households who inhabit some of the oldest
housing in the City.
Non-Housing Community Development Needs
A listing of the non-housing community development needs are identified below:
- Economic Development Needs.
- Education and Training Needs.
- Public Safety and Drug Abuse Needs.
- Social and Human Service Needs.
- Transportation and Infrastructure Needs.
- Physical Environmental Needs.
Coordination
Affordable housing programs and supportive service activities are carried out by City
agencies, Federal Agencies, the Lansing Housing Commission, State agencies and other
service and private sector institutions. Formal and informal efforts at coordinating activities
are established between or among the many participants.
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Vision for Change
The vision of the five-year Housing and Community Development Plan is based on
coordinating the efforts of churches, neighborhood and charity organizations and the non
profit organizations with the financial resources of local, State and federal programs and the
private sector.
Housing Priorities
The strategy identifies priorities for tenant assistance and project assistance based on
household types and income groups. HIGH PRIORITY is given to increase the supply of
standard affordable housing through rehabilitation and rental assistance to meet the needs
of the very low income and the owner households. Households in this group face the
prospect of becoming homeless. MODERATE PRIORITY is given to providing rehabilitation
assistance to renters and owner households who are in need but not as critical as the High
Priority group. LOW PRIORITY is given to providing assistance to low income first time
homebuyers and the elderly who are renters.
Non-Housing Community Development Priorities
The non-housing community development priorities include those activities which were
identified in the City's enterprise community application. These include economic
development, finance, education, training, public education/training, public safety/drug
awareness, social and human resources, transportation and the physical environment.
Anti-Poverty Strategy
Poverty is an issue not easily addressed or controlled by the City on a unilateral basis.
Traditional types of economic development intended to create jobs and provide household
income are the most important components of an anti-poverty strategy. Some of these are
as follows:
- Rehabilitation and weatherization programs intended to provide affordable
housing.
- Initiatives to improve the knowledge and skills of public housing residents.
- Support Service Programs to give clients the opportunity to achieve self sufficiency and compete for better paying jobs.
- Retraining programs established by private industry to retrain individuals who have lost
their jobs.
- A micro enterprise loan program established by local lending institutions to benefit low
and moderate income.
Housing and Community Development Resources
In the Lansing area, community resources exist in a variety of forms operating from
different political views but always limited in funds. These resources include a diversified
employment base, educational and vocational training opportunities offered by the Lansing
Community College, and the fact that Lansing is the home of a major manufacturer in the
automotive industry. The greater Lansing area also contains several medical institutions and
education centers.
Coordination of Strategic Plan
The City of Lansing is the lead agency responsible for coordinating the Consolidated Plan.
In the development of the Consolidated Plan, the City incorporated other planning efforts
and strategic planning documents including the Lansing Housing Partnership,
Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy and the Enterprise Community Plan
Application.
ONE-YEAR ACTION PLAN
The City's 1995 Action Plan serves as a basis for implementing the housing and community
development activities using the following criteria in selecting program
activities:
- Potential sources of funding.
- Capacity of the City and other private and public organizations to deliver.
- Expected level of funding.
- Feasibility of carrying out activity in the 1995 program year.
Description of Key Projects and Locations.
The Action Plan Narrative gives details of the activities and locations of the following
programs:
- Rehabilitation activities single unit residential.
- Rehabilitation activities multiple residential.
- Construction of new housing.
- Homeless shelter rehabilitation.
- Weatherization improvements.
- Acquisition, relocation and clearance.
- Public improvements.
- Direct homeownership assistance.
- Essential services and homeless prevention.
- Public services.
Lead Agencies and Monitoring
The primary responsibility for planning and monitoring the action plan rests with the
Department of Planning and Neighborhood Development under the policy direction of the
Mayor and City Council. The three divisions of this department, Planning, Development and
Building Safety, are responsible for strategy formulation, program application and
implementation. The State Housing Authority works with the Department of Housing and
Urban Development and Neighborhood Organizations in the coordination of resources to
overcome gaps in the institutional structure to deliver a product more efficiently.
Maps
Map 1 depicts points of interest in the
jurisdiction.
Map 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income
areas.
Map 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income
areas, and minority concentration levels.
Map 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income
areas, and unemployment levels.
Map 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income
areas, and proposed HUD funded projects. A table is provided giving details on these
projects.
To comment on Lansing's Consolidated Plan, please contact Mr. Emil Winnicker at (517)
483-4063.
Return to Michigan's Consolidated Plans