R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press A joint meeting of the Gladstone City Commission and Gladstone Housing Commission was held at Gladstone City Hall on Monday with the focus on Fairview Manor. Pictured, from left, are Mayor Joe Thompson, City Commissioners Brad Mantela and Judy Akkala, Housing Commission Vice President Joseph Maki, Housing Commission Executive Director Michael Lindahl, and Housing Commission board members Rudolph Kaminen, Mary Bosk and Anne Chapman.

GLADSTONE — A special joint meeting of the Gladstone City Commission and the Gladstone Housing Commission took place on Monday so that the Housing Commission could update the city on its plans for Fairview Manor, an aging building with ongoing issues, and ask for a letter of support from the mayor. The Housing Commission intends to build two new buildings to replace the 50-unit Fairview, which would be razed — eventually, not immediately.

The Gladstone Housing Commission is pursuing Section 18 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended in 1998, which gives agencies such as themselves the authority to demolish public housing. One requirement on the checklist is to obtain a letter of support from the local government — particularly the highest elected official, which in this case is Mayor Joe Thompson. The three kkikwho were present agreed that a letter should be drafted acknowledging that they had been briefed on the Housing Commission’s plans. The letter will be presented at the Gladstone City Commission’s next regular meeting on Monday, April 14, when the commission will take action — that is, decide whether Thompson should sign the letter.

At present, two buildings operated by the housing commission, which was established in 1967, stand in relatively close proximity to one another in the area between Dakota Avenue to the north, Minneapolis Avenue to the south, Elm Street to the east, and South 4th Street to the west. Both are structured to be affordable for people with low incomes and give priority to senior citizens and disabled persons who qualify. One, formerly Bayview Manor, was remodeled in 2021 and renamed Waterview Apartments.

Fairview Manor, erected in 1968 and opened in ’69, has had some work done, but efforts to fight the repeated flooding in the basement are only addressing symptoms and cannot repair the faulty engineering and construction of 57 years ago, say housing commission board members. They began looking into options to repair, maintain or replace their buildings around 2014.

According to a letter sent to the Gladstone City Commission by Gladstone Housing Commission Board President Paula Waege in November, Fairview is ineligible for the same funding that was used to convert Bayview — the federal government’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

A 2018 foundation evaluation of Fairview Manor mentioned that “water flows into the basement sump continuously” and pointed out the dangers this caused; the basement is home to boilers and electrical breakers. A needs assessment by Architects Group Limited in August 2024 estimated the cost of repairs to Fairview at over $6 million.

Having decided that demolition is the best course of action, the housing commission has landed on an idea to build two new one-story buildings to replace Fairview. As per a working plan, still subject to change, they hope to erect one building between the existing Waterview and Fairview and move some residents in there before tearing down Fairview and building the second structure.

In November, Executive Director Mike Lindahl and Vice President Joe Maki — both of the housing commission — attended a regular meeting of the city commission to invite them on a tour of Fairview so they could see the situation firsthand. In February, a tour took place: Mayor Thompson, City Commissioner Brad Mantela, State Senator Ed McBroom and State Representative Dave Prestin were all shown the premises at Fairview.

Though there is no question that the building is in rough shape, there was some hesitancy on the part of the city to say that they whole-heartedly support the housing commission’s plan to demolish Fairview, since there is not yet any assurance that funding to rebuild will be secured. But in order to proceed down their intended path, the housing commission needs the mayor’s support first and will later need to work with the city’s planning and zoning department.

“I would be in support of writing the letter with the understanding that this doesn’t put the city at any obligation financially,” said Mantela on Monday.

Commissioner Judy Akkala agreed, as did Thompson. Commissioners Robert Pontius and Steve O’Driscoll were not in attendance but should see the letter next Monday.

While the future of Fairview is still uncertain, Lindahl is trying to get a number of pieces together before the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)’s next funding run in October. The city’s letter is one step.

Next,”we’d have to have a site plan; it would have to be approved by the city; we have to have the construction costs — we have to have everything in place before (applying for MSHDA funds),” Lindahl said.

With the economy fluctuating and since MSHDA changes their qualifications each funding run, “it’s like trying to shoot a moving target,” he added.

Representing the housing commission at the joint meeting were Lindahl, Maki and board members Rudy Kaminen, Mary Bosk and Anne Chapman.

Also in attendance were City Manager Eric Buckman, City Clerk Kim Berry, Zoning Administrator Renee Barron, and two members of the public.