Lorain Council OKs modular homes, funds rehab at Haven Center

LORAIN — Modular homes will be allowed in parts of Lorain. City Council approved a change to Lorain's zoning code, allowing permanently sited prefabricated homes to be built in residential areas. The effort looks to spur development, especially on vacant lots in older parts of the city. It will allow for Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity to build modular homes on vacant parcels in South Lorain. During Monday's Council meeting, Building, Housing and Planning Director Matt Kusznir and Zoning Administrator Evelisse Atkinson stressed the zoning changes only allow permanently sited homes to be built — not single or double-wide trailers or trailer parks to encroach on older neighborhoods. Homes, whether traditional or modular, must adhere to the Ohio building construction code and must be a minimum of 900 square feet, per the ordinance. Ohio law requires permanently sited manufactured homes to be allowed in any single-family zoning. The change allows Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity to move forward with at least two modular homes set for vacant lots on the south side, one at E. 29th St, the other at 1819 E. 34th St., to act as in-fill lots to replace homes torn down in 2016. Habitat CEO John Litten told The Chronicle-Telegram in March that the homes will be sold by his organization at their appraised value for a zero-percent interest mortgage to income-qualified buyers. Large portions of the homes are built offsite and assembled on a foundation, but the accompanying garage is built in a traditional way on-site. Habitat for Humanity has completed several similar builds in Cleveland, and the properties proposed for Lorain would match the surrounding neighborhood's build style. For South Lorain, that means the East 29th and East 34th Street properties will be two-story, rather than the ranch-style homes built in Cleveland. Council also unanimously approved a 10-year, zero percent interest $980,000 Home Investment Partnerships-American Rescue Plan loan for Neighborhood Alliance's Haven Center, 1536 E. 30th St. The Home Investment Partnership-American Rescue Plan, or HOME-ARP funds must be used to help residents experiencing or at-risk of becoming homeless, fleeing domestic violence, or at risk of housing instability, Kusznir said — making the south side homeless shelter's continued upgrades one of the only projects the funds can be used for. The funds will continue Haven Center's work to convert its homeless shelter into a non-congregate setting — giving its residents more privacy and personal space. Kusznir said the funds will act as a grant so long as the property remains a shelter for the next decade; if not, the funds must be repaid to the city. The project includes rehabbing a portion of the existing emergency shelter into 11 non-congregate, dorm-style units. The rehab is in addition to the 9,000-square-foot expansion for families that opened late last year. That $3.2 million expansion was funded in part by $900,000 from Lorain's Community Development Block Grant funds. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.