Madison Area Community Land Trust (MACLT) is leading the development of townhomes at the Voit property on Madison’s east side off of Milwaukee Street. This project will create opportunities for stable, quality, permanently-affordable homeownership that will multiply in impact over time. MACLT is seeing a major growth spurt, and is on the path to expand our portfolio by over 60% in the next 5 years as we work toward our goal of developing our 100th permanently-affordable home by 2030. The Voit Townhomes project will jumpstart this growth to support us in expanding the number of permanently affordable homeownership opportunities in Dane County.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How many homes will be created and what will be their impact?
The current working design includes 14 townhomes. The final design and number of homes developed may vary depending on the total funding secured for the project. The land trust model keeps the homes permanently affordable, so the impact of these homes will grow each time the homes sell to a new low-income family. On average, MACLT homes sell every 15 years, meaning that with these 14 homes, a total of 28 families will be served after 15 years, and 42 families after 30 years (plus future generations of homeowners). This project will have a long-term impact, affecting generation after generation of low-income buyers into the future.
What type of homes will be developed and how affordable will they be?
MACLT is planning to develop attached townhomes that are 2 to 4 bedrooms in size. Half the homes will be affordable below 80% area median income (AMI) (a max income of $97,800 per year for a family of four), and half the homes will be affordable below 50% AMI (a max income of $62,950 per year for a family of four). Ongoing affordability will be protected by resale price restrictions embedded in a ground lease between the homeowners and MACLT, just like all affordable MACLT homes. At least two of the homes will be livable accessible.
How “green” will these homes be?
Threshold Builds has significant experience and passion for energy-efficient design. The homes will be as green and energy-efficient as economically feasible while maintaining a high level of affordability. We expect to be able to achieve Energy Star Certification and maintain a tight building envelope. We are also exploring funding opportunities for solar power and higher energy-efficiency standards that would allow for all-electric appliances. We are also exploring natural landscaping techniques that would incorporate native plants and not require fertilizer and pesticides.
What is the timeline of the project?
In 2023, MACLT secured a purchase contract for a parcel (lot 10) at the Voit property. In 2024, the Starkweather Group (the owner of the entire Voit property) gained approval from the City of Madison for the re-zoning and platting for the entire Starkweather Plat. MACLT has begun work on architectural design. We anticipate that construction will begin by early 2026 if not sooner.
How will the project be funded?
Dane County and the City of Madison are expected to contribute the majority of the subsidy needed to make these homes affordable. Madison Community Foundation, Roots and Wings Foundation, and Evjue Foundation have additionally supported the early capacity building and research stages of this project.
Who is the development team for the project?
The project development team, led by MACLT Executive Director Olivia Williams, includes Threshold Builds, legal counsel from Carlson Black O’Callaghan & Battenberg LLP, and MACLT’s Housing Development Advisory Committee, a committed volunteer committee of professionals in real estate.
Who will be able to buy these homes?
To ensure our homes serve those who need the homes the most, MACLT employs a point system in our Applicant Selection Criteria Policy to select buyers, specifically targeting households with lower incomes per person, individuals with permanent disabilities, and first-time and/or first-generation homebuyers. Since we adopted this policy in 2020, the average income of our buyers has dropped from 60% to 49% of the area median income (AMI), and the percentage of people of color buying our homes has increased from 39% to 67%. (For comparison, in our service area of Dane County, US Census data shows 84% of residents are white and 16% are people of color.) Half these homes will be affordable below 80% area median income (AMI) (a max income of $97,800 per year for a family of four), and half the homes will be affordable below 50% AMI (a max income of $62,950 per year for a family of four).
How will the buyers of these homes be supported in their homeownership journey?
We are committed to the long term success of our homeowners and stewardship of the homes through our Stewardship Program. MACLT provides pre- and post-purchase support to homebuyers and homeowners in our program. Many of our homeowners are the first in their families to own a home, and MACLT staff are instrumental in helping them access resources for housing maintenance and repair. MACLT coordinates information sessions on things like winterization, refinancing, and basic maintenance, and provides direct 1:1 support to homeowners to help them find programs, funding, and quality maintenance professionals. MACLT homeowners also have the opportunity to participate in a committee of MACLT homeowners as well as the opportunity to serve on MACLT’s Board of Directors. The Stewardship Committee provides a place for low-income homeowners in the CLT to collaborate and provide feedback on MACLT policies that will impact them.
What is the significance of this project for MACLT?
This project will be the largest that MACLT has completed since Troy Gardens in 2006! MACLT will use program revenues from this project to invest in the next project, jumpstarting the growth of MACLT’s Housing Development Program and increasing MACLT’s permanently affordable housing production long-term. This will have ripple effects, increasing the affordable homeownership opportunities in our community for decades to come. This project is a pivotal opportunity to spur MACLT’s sustainable growth.