Affordable living and neighborhood amenities bring families back to city
TROY, Mich. – Oct. 13, 2011 – Champion Commercial Structures, a division of Champion Home Builders, a leading manufacturer of modular homes and buildings for government and commercial applications, today announced in partnership with Russell Building Group that the company will build a series of 83 homes as part of Flint, Mich.’s Smith Village Neighborhood. The Smith Village an urban redevelopment project is intended to integrate low and moderate income homebuyers without a noticeable difference in quality and design.
The project, funded by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant, broke ground in July. The first phase is slated for completion Dec. 31, 2011 and will consist of 27 homes built offsite and transported to the development. Champion will begin to deliver the first phase of homes on Oct. 17, 2011. The homes will be assembled onsite, with the basements, garages, porches, exterior facades, including all siding and brick work, roofing and mechanical systems completed by local workers and contractors.
“Smith Village is an exciting project for Champion Home Builders,” said Jack Lawless, CEO, Champion Home Builders. “With the first phase deadline approaching time is a major factor and we have the ability to build and deliver the homes quickly for onsite finishing. Our modular building process also assists with keeping the cost of labor and materials within the project’s budget. As a Michigan-owned and -operated company since 1953, we are pleased to be part of this redevelopment effort.”
Smith Village will consist of seven custom Champion home designs, which range from approximately 1,500 to more than 2,000 square feet. Designs include a mix of three and four bedroom layouts, and each includes a large master bedroom with walk-in closets and a minimum of two full baths. Homes will be finished with amenities such as energy star appliances, “low e” vinyl windows, energy efficient heating and air-conditioning systems, and ceramic tile floors.
“For Flint to succeed in revitalizing its urban landscape and rebuilding its civic spirit, it’s imperative to bring families back to the city,” said Bret Russell, CEO, Russell Building Group. “The homes Champion and Russell Building Group are building for Smith Village will provide comfortable, affordable and safe places for families to grow and thrive in Flint.”
Beginning in 1998, the City of Flint began acquiring property through a series of tax foreclosures to develop Smith Village into a model urban neighborhood boasting tree lined streets, sidewalks, underground utilities and decorative streetlights. Over 200 blighted structures were demolished to make way for the community. In addition, through the past six years, the City of Flint and its partners have demolished over 2,000 dilapidated homes throughout the community to remove blight and improve overall neighborhood conditions. Additional targeted demolition will continue over the next several years. This effort has positively affected home values in Flint, with the average cost of housing up 13 percent in 2010.
About Champion
Troy, Michigan-based Champion Enterprises Holdings, LLC is a leader in factory-built construction which, through its operating subsidiaries, manufactures products at 27 facilities in North America and the United Kingdom and distributes its products through independent retailers, builders and developers. The Champion family of builders produces manufactured and modular homes, as well as modular buildings for government and commercial applications. Genesis is Champion’s national brand for modular homes sold to builders. Champion also markets modular homes to builders under the New Era and Carolina Building Systems brands. For more information, please visit
www.championhomes.com.
www.genesishomes.com
www.new-era-homes.com
www.cbsmods.com