Midland Daily News highlights how partnership is shaping community’s housing future
Recent coverage from the Midland Daily News highlights the unique partnership bringing Alden B. Dow’s architectural legacy to the Humanity Street Neighborhood Development in Midland County. The story explores how previously unbuilt Alden B. Dow home designs are being adapted to help address today’s housing needs while supporting long-term community resilience.
You can read the full Midland Daily News article here:
Alden B. Dow’s unused home designs will shape new Habitat neighborhood in Midland
Turning recovery into renewal
The Humanity Street Neighborhood Development grew out of Midland’s long-term recovery efforts following the 2020 dam failures and flooding. Federal recovery funding enabled the City of Midland to replace housing lost in the floodplain while creating opportunities for new housing development elsewhere in the community.
For Midland County Habitat for Humanity, this project represents more than new construction. It is an opportunity to help address a growing housing shortage while creating new pathways to affordable homeownership for working individuals and families.
Historic designs meeting today’s housing needs
One of the most distinctive aspects of the development is the partnership with the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio.
The project will utilize five previously unbuilt home designs created by Alden B. Dow between 1935 and 1940. According to the Midland Daily News, the designs required relatively few modifications to meet modern building standards and Habitat requirements, making them a natural fit for affordable housing development.
These homes combine Midland’s architectural heritage with features that support modern living, offering practical layouts while preserving the design principles that made Mr. Dow’s work influential.
This partnership reflects a shared belief that thoughtful design should be accessible and that housing should support stability, comfort, and opportunity.
Building more than homes
The article also highlights the scale of the Humanity Street project. Unlike Habitat’s traditional infill approach, this development represents the organization’s first neighborhood-scale development effort.
Beyond creating new housing opportunities, the project is bringing together community partners, educators, and future trades professionals. Building trades students from Midland Public Schools will play a role in constructing the homes, creating opportunities for hands-on learning while contributing to a project that will serve families for generations.
Looking ahead
Infrastructure work is currently underway, with federal funding supporting site preparation and utility improvements to support future construction that will be completed this summer, with home construction anticipated to begin in 2027.
While the homes themselves are still ahead, the work happening today is laying the foundation for a neighborhood that expands housing opportunities, strengthens community resilience, and helps ensure Midland remains a place where people can live, work, and thrive.
We are grateful to the Midland Daily News for helping share this story and to the many partners, supporters, and community members working alongside us to build what comes next.
Learn more
To learn more about the Humanity Street Neighborhood Development and follow project updates, visit: