No snowbirds here: Negaunee releases results of Senior Housing Survey

NEGAUNEE, Mich. (WJMN) — The City of Negaunee has released the results of its efforts earlier this year to understand the housing needs and desires of its senior citizens.

A release from the City of Negaunee stated that their study showed similar results to a county-wide study, which said nearly half of all residents in Marquette County are over the age of 60, as well as 27% of renters.

Conducted to provide information for potential developers, City Manager Nate Heffron said marketing the new housing to seniors could be a successful combo for optimizing the city’s housing strategy.

“Should the city be successful in attracting developers for senior housing, this will allow us a two-for-one deal. Seniors can then move out of their existing homes into new housing ‘downsizing,’ opening their former homes to new families for purchase,” Heffron said.

A spokesperson for the city said some of the highlights of the session include the following, based on a 1000 sq. ft. home/apartment:

• 90% of respondents want a one-story home/apartment.
• 80% of respondents want a 2-bedroom home/apartment.
• 97.5% of respondents independent living arrangements.
• 100% wanted to live near downtown.
• 70% wanted lawncare services to be provided.
• 90% want to live near parks and community services such as the post office, senior center etc.

In the city’s Senior Housing Survey , nearly all respondents said they wanted to live in Negaunee year-round in a single-story home or apartment, but also said they were either not ready to move yet or could not find the right place to move to. Over a third also said they wanted to live close to downtown.

Earlier this year, Heffron made mention that the embattled potential development of a couple acres at the entrance of Old Town could be an ideal place for a developer to create apartments for senior living.

The city council has since voted to rezone the property for that purpose, but the question of whether to reverse that decision is still posed to voters on the August 6 primary ballot.

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