PINCKNEY — A local developer is still interested in transforming the former St. Mary’s Church into housing, but the plan has shifted to seven apartment units rather than a group home for adults with disabilities.
The final site plan for Grant’s Place was approved Jan. 5 by the Pinckney Planning Commission. The former church is located at 551 E. Hamburg St. in Pinckney.
The applicant, Chris Bonk, was initially inspired to create a group home where his son might be able to live someday — but struggled with funding and securing local employees. He intended to use a marijuana facility, The Means Project, at the former Pinckney Elementary School to support the project. That development, however, never came to fruition.
“It was my dream to bring that to Livingston County and it’s a little disappointing that it’s not happening,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking on one hand, but when God closes one door, he opens another.”
Bonk is continuing to use the name “Grant’s Place” in hopes his son might one day live in one of the units with support.
Regardless of the result, Bonk is glad he can revitalize an empty building. There’ll be a single one-bedroom unit and six two-bedroom units. Four units will be rented at a “slightly reduced rate” for working tenants.
The project will combine grant and private funding to disconnect the church sanctuary, which will house the apartments, from the rear building — which will become a duplex in the future.
Bonk is grateful to local officials for working with him on the development. He hopes to start construction in the coming months, but anticipates it’ll take roughly a year to complete.
— Contact reporter Makayla Coffee at mcoffee@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Developer shifts plan for former St. Mary’s Church in Pinckney
Reporting by Makayla Coffee, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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