By Lisa Carolin
The current inventory of single family homes, condominiums, and apartments in the City of Chelsea was one of the main topics at the April 24 meeting of the Housing Research Advisory Commission.
Some statistics were shared by Terris Ahrens, a real estate professional on the commission, using the website realtor.com as a source. There were 87 houses that sold in Chelsea in 2017 at an average cost of just under $269,000. There are currently only 10 houses for sale that are not already under contract.
There were 40 condominiums that sold in 2017 at an average price of $193,762. There are currently three condominiums for sale at an average price of just under $224,000.
Most apartment complexes in Chelsea currently have waiting lists. No average rental price was given because some apartments, including those above businesses, are rented out by individual landlords.
Ahrens used anecdotal information to explain why the inventory of houses in Chelsea is so low now. He said that a decade ago, foreclosures were frequent. Builders lost work and left the state. More recently, people have been buying land, but the cost of building has gone up so much they can’t afford to build, and there’s a shortage of builders. Feeney added that lumber and steel prices have gone up substantially.
Commission Member Rick Catherman shared the statistic that Chelsea High School has lost close to 300 students since the year 2000. Members of the commission agreed that they want to look at gaps in housing in Chelsea and determine how to fill them.
The seven-member commission’s role is to present findings to the City Council.
Responsibilities of the Housing Research Advisory Commission include researching existing housing, evaluating housing options, and identifying housing needs.
Dr. Vincent Elie, chair of the commission, suggested talking to both the city assessor for more information as well as the county assessor, specifically about the four townships that surround Chelsea – Dexter, Lyndon, Lima, and Sylvan townships, which Feeney offered to do.
The Housing Research Advisory Commission meets twice a month and agreed to change their meeting times to the second and fourth Fridays of the month at 4 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
The next meeting is May 11.
