Flint, MI – Communities First, Inc. (CFI), a Flint-headquartered nonprofit real estate developer and community development corporation, will receive $1.5 million in state funding to preserve a key historic landmark and invest in local housing and new commercial space.

Marian Hall, 529 Martin Luther King Ave., Flint, MI 48502, is a century-old building located on the northern edge of downtown Flint. The property will be redeveloped into a mixed-use development with new homes and retail space. This proposal will restore historic Marian Hall and construct a new five-story addition to its south, bringing 133 new units of mixed-income housing and ground floor commercial space to Downtown Flint.

Genesee County is short thousands of units of quality, affordable housing. This development will help address this crisis while adding hundreds of new residents to downtown Flint, complementing nearby recent investments like the new Flint State Park, the opening of Queens’ Provisions, the Grand on University, and the completion of the Saginaw Street Rehabilitation Project.

Flint businesses will be able to thrive in the new commercial space of the first floor of Marian Hall, ensuring that these new neighbors have shops and businesses close by in a walkable, pedestrian-friendly community. By making major investments in this area, this project advances the goals of equitable community development in Flint.

“CFI takes a holistic approach to building healthy, vibrant communities,” said Glenn Wilson, President and CEO of Communities First, Inc. “Through opportunities like this one, we can continue to respond to the housing crisis in Flint by providing affordable housing as well as provide key locations for local businesses to thrive.”

“I’m proud to have championed state investment in Marian Hall—a vital step that honors Flint’s rich history and addresses our city’s housing needs,” said Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint). “By developing new spaces for both residents and businesses, we’re laying the foundation for a stronger, more vibrant community for all.”

“In this year’s budget, I was able to secure $1.5 million for redeveloping Marian Hall into multiple new community spaces, including affordable housing,” said State Rep. Cynthia Neeley (D-Flint). “Affordable housing is at the top of the wish list for the people of Flint. It is a problem we need to fix, can fix and will fix. This funding is a crucial step for creating an even more vibrant, sustainable community.”

State funding is made available for projects with clear community support and this allocation is a part of the 2024-2025 State of Michigan budget signed in July by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

About Communities First, Inc. (CFI)

Communities First, Inc. is a nonprofit Community Development Corporation. Headquartered in Flint, CFI serves over 35,000 community members across Michigan and Indiana. CFI’s mission is to build healthy, vibrant communities through economic development, affordable housing, and innovative programming. More information about Communities First, Inc. can be found at www.communitiesfirstinc.org.

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