Centennial Arms I & II

Centennial Arms Apartments is a 109-unit public housing project in Evart, Michigan, which has been successfully operated by the Evart Housing Commission since 1974. In 2023, the housing commission engaged Baker Tilly and Edison Community Partners to redevelop the project through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s  Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program.  

Evart is a small city with a population of approximately 1,750, located in Osceola County along Route 10. Centennial Arms is adjacent to Evart Elementary School and within walking distance of the city’s downtown.

Centennial Arms currently consists of fifty-six (56) one-, two-, and three-bedroom townhomes and fifty-three (53) one-bedroom apartments on a 20-acre parcel. The redevelopment is being split into two phases and will add thirty-six (36) new two- and three-bedroom townhomes to the existing site. 

Phase I will include a rehab of the existing townhomes, which were constructed around 1980. It will also include site improvements and the construction of twenty-four (24) new two- and three-bedroom townhomes. Phase I will also include the addition of a community building dedicated to families, complete with a new community room.

Phase II will include a similar rehab of the existing apartments, which were constructed around 1974. Similar to Phase I, it will also include site improvements and the construction of an additional twelve (12) three-bedroom townhomes. Phase II already includes an expansive community room, craft room, leasing office, laundry room, and other amenities.

Preservation of the existing 109 units of affordable housing, as well as construction of 36 new affordable units, will enhance quality of life for existing residents while also offering additional high-quality affordable housing to meet community needs. 

There have been no affordable housing units constructed in the Evart area since 1989 (Springview Apartments) and the last affordable housing development in Osceola County (Reed City) was built in 2004.

The original 109 units will continue to receive project based rental assistance through the RAD conversion process, and roughly half of the current households are below 30% AMI. The newly constructed units will be income restricted to up to 80% AMI. All units will qualify for LIHTC under the average income minimum set aside.

   The Evart Housing Commission is joint venturing this project with Edison Community Partners and both parties will remain in the LIHTC partnership for the full 15 year LIHTC compliance period. Baker Tilly, a firm with deep experience in public housing, will consult with the joint venture until the RAD conversion is complete.

The Evart Housing Commission has successfully managed Centennial Arms for 40+ years and will continue to maintain its primary office on site. KMG Prestige, a Michigan-based management company with deep LIHTC experience, will handle compliance.  

Wolverine Building Group, a highly experienced MSHDA general contractor, will manage the tenant in place rehab and new construction work. The project will not involve off-site tenant relocation. Residents will be temporarily relocated into “transition units” on site while WBG completes disruptive work within their units. 

Energy efficiency, electrification, on-site solar, and other “green” measures will be prioritized along with a comprehensive scope of capital improvements to position the project for another 20+ years of successful operations.

The project closed in May 2026, with construction projected to start the first week of June.  A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the site on June 5.