Below, you’ll find articles and information put out on other websites regarding our concerns.
Developer nixes plans for major Portage housing project near lake
7/26/2023
A plan to build hundreds of homes, townhomes and apartments near Austin Lake in Portage is headed back to the drawing board. Developers withdrew a rezoning application for a proposed development that would have brought 612 housing units to 126 acres of land. The developer, Dale Kraker, submitted a notice of withdrawal in writing to…
10 candidates square off for 4 Portage council seats; 2 enter mayoral race
7/26/2023
Ten candidates have officially entered the race for City Council in Portage and two others for the mayoral race. The filing deadline for the Nov. 7 election was 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25. The mayoral race will pit Councilwoman Lisa Brayton against three-term incumbent Mayor Patricia Randall. Brayton announced recently that she will resign…
Portage councilwoman resigning to challenge 3-term mayor
7/21/2023
Lisa Brayton wants to be the people’s mayor. Elected to the Portage City Council in 2021, Brayton is resigning in the middle of her first term to challenge incumbent Mayor Patricia Randall this November. Randall has served as mayor since 2017. Read More
AUDIO: Heated crowd makes their voice heard at Portage City Council meeting over plans for housing developments
7/12/2023
Tensions flared at the Portage City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 11 as residents and the council squared off again over plans for a pair of new housing developments in the Lake Center area. For more details: CLICK HERE
700 housing units near lake? Portage leaders hear outcry, pause developments
6/8/2023
Austin Landings, proposed by Grand Rapids architectural firm Nederveld, would bring 612 housing units to 126 acres of land north of Austin Lake in Portage, Michigan. The project, if approved, would consist of 174 single-family lots, 64 townhomes in 16 four-plex buildings and 374 multifamily dwelling units occupying 11 apartment buildings of 34 units each.…
City Officials Confirm Existence of Plans to Build Housing Projects Despite Resident Protest
6/7/2023
Earlier this month, Kalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema recommended that city millage money be spent on payment assistance for workforce housing in the Austin Lake area.
Portage buying up land to create new three-mile, Austin Lake Trail
2/23/2023
The City of Portage is one step closer to piecing together the land for a three-mile, non-motorized trail that will run along the east shore of Austin Lake, down to the southern border of the city…. To see the whole story Click Here
After banner year for development, Portage looks at continued emphasis on housing
1/8/2023
After a year that saw plans for nearly 800 housing units move through planning commission and city council, Portage city manager Pat McGinnis said residents can expect more of the same in 2023. Read More
10 new developments with 779 units highlight housing push in Portage in 2022
1/5/2023
Addressing a need for housing in the area, Portage Planning Commission and City Council moved 10 new residential projects forward, accounting for 779 new units, over the course of 2022. To see the whole story Click Here
Portage city-led development of up to 78 housing units gets boost from stimulus money
11/3/2022
A new housing development that the city of Portage wants to build on 14 acres in the city is receiving a boost from county stimulus funds. The proposed project would feature up to 78 residential units through a mix of homes and townhomes. It’s being marketed as a way to help fill the “missing middle”…
About 7,750 additional homes are needed in Kalamazoo County by 2030 based on population trends, according to a released this week. Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners Chair Mike Quinn told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette that housing is among the top issues the county is focused on, if not the top issue. To read the full article …
