This presentation details a plan developed in 2011 to convert a vacant, tax-foreclosed house in Flint, Michigan into a green energy demonstration center and classroom and residential units. The center, known as the Urban Alternatives House, is undergoing renovation and is scheduled to open in September 2012. The University of Michigan-Flint and the Genesee County Land Bank partnered with the Central Park Neighborhood Association to ensure the success of this project.

1. Creating a
Greener Flint:
Education Meets
Energy Saving at the
Urban Alternatives
House
Jonathan E. Tarr
Jonathan.Tarr@gmail.com
@plannerthon
APA Los Angeles
S633: Capstones Part II
April 14, 2012

2. FLINT:
Vehicle City to College
Town
• Seventh largest Michigan city; metro is 4% of
state population and 3% of state GDP
• Significant loss of industry, but GM and others
remain
• Population is 50% lower than its peak, but about
99,000 residents still live here
• Growing student population has boosted rental
housing market; conversion of large houses to
apartments

3. More on
Flint
• Despite impressions as a stagnant city,
things change quickly: porches collapsed,
many houses foreclosed in our short time
• Municipal issues: small police force, no
judge assigned to “blight court,” possible
emergency financial manager

4. Where we came in …
• First property proposed by UM-Flint for
UAH destroyed by fire in November 2010
• Second property chosen was in different
neighborhood, different challenges
• We were asked to “fast track” second
house into UAH from January-April 2011,
with goal for house to open Fall 2012

5. Project Partners

6. Central Park
Neighborhood
• Traditional street grid, near downtown,
UM-Flint, Flint Public Library, two
museums
• Many large, single-family homes 70+
years old

7. More on Central Park
• AKA “College-Cultural”: demonym anxiety
• Closed middle school and high school
buildings adjacent to neighborhood

8. 924 Eddy St.
• 3,054 square feet, built 1918
• Larger than most in Flint; too large for
today’s typical household
• Victim of tax foreclosure, long vacant with
utilities cut, evidence of squatters
• Vacant lot next door at 920 Eddy

9. Vision for UAH
• Full renovation to LEED-certified standard
with features ranging from geothermal well
and utility monitoring system to bike racks
• Three residential units
• Classroom/lab space for Earth and
Resource Science Dept., other UM-Flint
departments
• Community garden on adjacent lot

10. Funding Plan
To renovate house with energy efficient
features, $300,000 needed
Sources:
• HUD NSP2
funds
• Foundation
grants
• UM-Flint funding
& in-kind support

11. Planning and Zoning Needs
• Combine lots: 1 owned by Land Bank, 1
by City
• Rezone to classification that allows
multiple units and educational use by right
• Remove cul de sac for better access
• Off-street parking to accommodate visitors
as well as residents

12. Our Immediate Objectives
Important tasks:
• Extensive community input, public meeting
• Drew up architectural plans
• Drew up plan for parking, best walking and
bicycling routes from campus
• Rezoning and combination of two lots
• Interior clean out

13. Progress Since April 2011
• Building permit issued, architect took over
and drew up more detailed plans
• Exterior work completed before winter,
interior work ongoing

14. Final Site Plan

15. On track to open in September
• Neighborhood still
involved in renovation
• Land Bank opted for
two apartment units
instead of three, due
to space constraints
• Rezoning not
necessary

16. Short to Medium Term Goals
• Earth & Resource Science courses to
occur at UAH from Fall 2012 forward
• Possible shuttle bus service to campus
• Application to become a Michigan State
Energy Demonstration Center
• Neighborhood association meetings, study
hub for students in Central Park

17. State Energy Demonstration
Center
• State funding goes to energy
demonstration centers, but the Flint area
doesn’t have one
• UAH as Michigan’s next energy
demonstration center could help Central
Park residents retrofit their homes

18. … and about the cul de sac
• Neighborhood likes and wants to keep it
• Revised plan: move cul de sac inward by
80’ to create parking but still prevent
through traffic

19. Long Term Goals
• Mott CC building
trades, Sloan Museum
using UAH
• Hub for energy audits
across Central Park,
Flint
• Part of Flint’s
downtown and
neighborhood
revitalization

20. Replicating UAH
Possible, because:
• Energy efficient retrofits save big $ over
time.
• Legacy cities and central city
neighborhoods have many old homes in
need of renovation.
• Funding could be easier in places with
higher property values.
However, Flint and Central Park are unique,
and UAH was created for that context.

21. Want to know
more?
Jonathan.Tarr@gmail.co
m
(919) 323-0117
@plannerthon
Thanks to:
Jon Barth, Paul Irwin, Maria Ryen,
Bre Shell, Kisaki Watanabe
Richard Hill-Rowley, Mat Weber,
Eric Dueweke, Christina Kelly,
Sheree Pierce, Norma Sain, Jerry
Rule, Ed Custer, Keith Edwards,
Heidi Phaneuf, Mel Serow, UM-Flint