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DOWAGIAC — A vacant plot of land will soon become part of the City of Dowagiac’s redevelopment plan.

The Dowagiac City Council unanimously approved a resolution to authorize the sale of Tract 1, a plot on Spruce Street, to Accent Homes of Dowagiac for the construction of a new single family residence with no charge for the land and utility connection fees waived.

In 2019, council established criteria for giving land and utility connections to people who build homes on vacant city-owned lots. Accent Homes was the contractor the City used to build the first MSHDA modular house on Spruce. Shortly after that construction, Accent Homes purchased the lot next door and built another home. It then expressed interest in building another home on the last available lot on the block through the city’s housing initiative program.

The sale agreement specifies the exterior look and roof line that will be built on the property. The new home would need to be constructed within nine months of closing. The housing initiative allows for the property to be sold for $1 with no additional charges for utility connections.

“The beautiful part of this is we’ve got a known quantity [in Accent Homes],” said City Manager Kevin Anderson. “Not only have they built the house that we put up there, they built a very similar one on their own before. We’re very excited to get this one started.”

“This is exactly what that program was created for,” added Mayor Don Lyons. “Inspiration for others to come forward.”