A proposed residential community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Harbor Springs is one step closer to reality after the West Traverse Township Planning Commission recommended approval of a special use permit for the project.
The recommendation now moves to the West Traverse Township Board, which is scheduled to vote June 9 on whether to grant final approval for the development, known as Ann’s Nest. The new nonprofit organization plans to develop a supportive residential campus on approximately six wooded acres along South State Road in Harbor Springs, pending board approval.
The founders of Ann’s Nest believe there is a significant shortage of local housing options for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Northern Michigan. Families in Emmet and Charlevoix counties faced with caring for adult children at home generally have to send them to facilities many miles away, they said.
“Northern Michigan has a significant shortage of long-term housing options for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said executive director Mary Grace McCaskill. “Families have been asking for something like this for years.”
Ann’s Nest was given its nonprofit status in December 2024 and has since completed its state and federal nonprofit filings. The organization was established in honor of Ann Vala and her lifelong commitment to caring for her son, John.
“As parents, one of the hardest questions we face is what happens to our children when we’re no longer here to care for them,” said co-founder Bob Vala. “Ann’s Nest was born out of that question and the desire to create a place where people are safe, loved and part of a community.”
The long-term vision for the Harbor Springs property includes five homes and a central activity center. The project will likely be built in phases, beginning with one home before expanding over time as fundraising continues.
Each home is expected to serve six residents, with every resident having a private bedroom and bathroom. Plans also include shared kitchens and dining areas, living rooms, staff space, garages and fully ADA-accessible features throughout.
“We’re not trying to build an institution,” said Ann’s Nest Co-Founder Paul Matthews. “We’re trying to create homes where people are known, valued, safe and connected to the community around them.”
The homes are being designed to feel residential rather than institutional, with organizers emphasizing long-term stability and independence for residents. Staff members would be present around the clock, and Ann’s Nest plans to seek licensing for the homes as Adult Foster Care facilities while partnering with North Country Community Mental Health and other local service providers.
The West Traverse Township Board would still need to approve the special use permit required for Adult Foster Care housing on the property before construction begins.
If approval is granted, organizers said a donor who stepped forward to support the land purchase will allow the nonprofit to close on the property shortly afterward. The organization is now focused on fundraising for site preparation, infrastructure and construction costs through private donations, foundations and a broader capital campaign.
“These homes are urgently needed. However, raising funds can take time,” McCaskill said. “We hope that our community will rise to the challenge and fund the construction and development quickly so that people with IDDs can have supportive homes to live in locally, in the community they know and love.”
The first phase of development is expected to cost approximately $2.5 million, while the full campus buildout could total nearly $15 million over several years. Construction could begin within a few months of final board approval.
For more information about Ann’s Nest, visit annsnest.org or call 231-412-0042.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Ann’s Nest proposal goes to West Traverse Township for approval June 9
Reporting by M. Alan Scott, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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