Neighbor News
The Block at Sterling Heights celebrates Macomb Chamber membership
Mayor says new apartment development is great for city
Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor applauded the city’s newest affordable housing development July 17 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Macomb County Chamber of Commerce.
The Block at Sterling Heights opened earlier this year near the southwest corner of 15 Mile and Van Dyke. The 213-unit apartment community has revitalized a part of town that had become an eyesore and site of numerous health and safety violations.
Formerly the Wyndham Gardens hotel and Sterling Inn Banquet and Conference Center, The Block at Sterling Heights is the culmination of a $15 million investment and a leading example of adaptive reuse — an emerging development trend that emphasizes resource sustainability.
Chris Potterpin, principal of Repvlik — the company responsible for The Block — said creating affordable housing is a priority in Sterling Heights and across the country. Adaptive reuse, he said, is a means to keeping rent reasonable.
“We tried to find a different way to bring affordable housing to the U.S.,” he said. “We settled on adaptive reuse and preservation of existing assets and translating those in specific cities and areas where there's a huge need for affordable housing or workforce housing.”
Mayor Taylor noted that adaptive reuse is important in aging communities like Sterling Heights and said The Block is a key addition to the city.
“I'm so happy to have new businesses come to Sterling Heights to help our economy and help the population have more choices,” he said. “What we hear a lot from people is that all of their housing options are getting outrageously expensive. … So (having) attainable housing right here in the heart of Sterling Heights is really important. This is going to support a number of businesses up and down Van Dyke.”
