City of Muskegon Infill Housing Program

CAO: Jonathan Seyferth

Population 10,000 to 49,999

The city of Muskegon, Michigan, has been recognized with the 2026 ICMA Community Sustainability Award for its innovative Infill Housing Program, a comprehensive initiative that addresses housing affordability, neighborhood revitalization, and environmental sustainability. Like many legacy industrial communities, Muskegon faced decades of population decline, vacant properties, and brownfield sites that discouraged investment and limited homeownership opportunities. Rather than relying on one-time funding, city leaders developed a long-term strategy to create quality housing while strengthening neighborhoods and improving fiscal sustainability.

The Infill Housing Program combines new residential construction with brownfield redevelopment to return vacant and underutilized properties to productive use. The city directly constructs affordable single-family homes on vacant lots and reinvests proceeds from home sales into future development through a revolving housing fund. Partnerships with private developers also encourage mixed-income housing and additional redevelopment, allowing the program to expand housing opportunities while maintaining responsible stewardship of public resources.

The initiative has already delivered significant, measurable results. More than 200 new homes have been completed through the program, helping to address Muskegon’s housing shortage while increasing access to homeownership for working families. Formerly vacant and blighted properties have been transformed into attractive residential neighborhoods, boosting property values, encouraging private investment, and restoring confidence in areas that had experienced decades of disinvestment. By emphasizing infill development, the city also reduces pressure for greenfield development and makes more efficient use of existing infrastructure.

Community engagement has been a cornerstone of the program’s success. Through neighborhood outreach, public meetings, and online engagement platforms, residents have played an active role in shaping redevelopment efforts and housing priorities. This transparent, collaborative approach has strengthened public trust, improved participation, and ensured that redevelopment reflects the needs and aspirations of the community. The program has also demonstrated the value of cross-department collaboration and strategic public-private partnerships in delivering lasting results.

Muskegon’s Infill Housing Program demonstrates how local governments can simultaneously tackle housing affordability, neighborhood revitalization, and long-term sustainability through innovative leadership and sound financial planning. By reinvesting redevelopment revenues, leveraging partnerships, and placing residents at the center of decision-making, the city has created a model that other communities can replicate to transform vacant land into thriving neighborhoods while building stronger, more resilient communities for generations to come.