THE GATEWAY SENIOR APARTMENTS IN FREMONT TO OPEN WITH RIBBON CUTTING

FREMONT, MICHIGAN – Home Renewal Systems of Farmington Hills will open the historic former Fremont High School to the public on May 12, in its new life as The Gateway, Fremont Senior Apartments. The historic school has been redeveloped to provide 38 mixed-income rental units in the heart of downtown Fremont. The redevelopment combines historic redevelopment with the latest in high-tech energy-efficiency retrofits to assure long-term affordability for residents.
A formal ribbon cutting will be held at 10:30 a.m., followed by tours of the building for participants and invited guests. The ribbon cutting is scheduled to feature remarks by Kevin Elsenheimer, newly-appointed Executive Director of MSHDA, as well as other public officials and project financing and construction partners.
A community Open House will be held between 12:30 and 3:00 p.m., offering residents their first opportunity to witness the transformation of former classrooms into unique apartments, featuring ceilings up to 12 feet and 8-foot windows that flood the apartments with natural light.
“Our focus at HRS has been on walkable locations that enhance the ‘quality of place’ in the communities where we work,” says Shannon Morgan, Senior Vice President of Home Renewal Systems. “We believe that The Gateway can be a national Best Practice example of public/private partnerships for Placemaking in our downtowns and central cities.”
“Given our location at the gateway to downtown, residents go by our building every day,” said Morgan. “In addition, the building was in continuous use as a school for 86 years. That means that everyone in Fremont born between 1910 and 1996 who went to public school attended classes in this building. As a result, there has been a tremendous amount of local interest in our project. We’re anxious to show off what we’ve accomplished and we’re thrilled to be part of the Fremont community, refitting this landmark in the community for the 21st Century and beyond.”

Features of the redevelopment include:

  • 32 affordable senior rental apartments
  • 6 market-rate senior rental apartments
  • Community and gathering space for residents
  • Indoor connection to the Fremont Community Center, owned by the Fremont Area Recreation Authority
  • Historic redevelopment, with restoration of the building’s historic interior courtyard, which will become a quiet spot for resident relaxation
  • Durable, high-quality fixtures and finishes
  • Quality and character evoking the historic school, including preservation and restorations of original built-in cabinets and other historic features
  • Quality and character evoking the historic school, including preservation and restorations of original built-in cabinets and other historic features
  • High-tech energy-efficiency retrofits, such as full geothermal heating and air conditioning to ensure long-term affordability for residents

The project has been developed by Home Renewal Systems of Farmington Hills, in cooperation with the City of Fremont and Fremont Public Schools. Financing has been provided by Lake Michigan Financial Corporation and Bank of Holland, which have invested in the construction and operation of the project through the construction lending and purchase of affordable housing and historic tax credits issued by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The $13 million project is expected to open to residents on May 15, 2015

For leasing information, please contact KMG Prestige at (231) 924-3729.

HRS Communities – Home Renewal Systems is a full service Michigan based real estate development firm with groundbreaking projects that have helped redefine the built environment. With a focus on today’s lifestyles and walkable community living, we specialize in understanding the complexities of urban living and the adaptive reuse of properties.

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