GREEN BAY, Wis. — As of March, Sebastian Kravick and his sister now call the City Center Lofts in downtown Green Bay their home.
“I get to walk to work because it’s only a couple minutes away. My sister as well works right downtown so we’re both right here,” said Kravick.
The building opened last September and contains 72 unique units for working families and individuals
“It’s really nice. They did a great job remodeling everything. It’s super clean,” said Kravick.
Alexia Rehn calls it the flagship of her nonprofit, The Gateway Collective.
“Every tenant here is a local professional working full time and yet we are able to set the rent based on what’s affordable based on their household income, based on their career. We can set the rent, lock it in for them, any job growth, any promotion, is more money back into their pocket and then we bring wraparound services and support to really encourage them,” explained Rehn.
Besides affordable rent, learning sessions are provided for tenants in a spacious community room, with the goal of upward mobility in mind.
“Everybody from budget counselors to financial advisors looking at improving credit, looking at preparing for the future, perhaps preparing for retirement, perhaps real estate agents who are starting that process of what would it look like to get ready for home ownership,” said Rehn.
Kravick plans on taking advantage of having access to financial professionals.
“It provides a huge opportunity, especially for people like me who are looking at getting a home one day,” said Kravick.
Rehn pointed out that the City Center Lofts aren’t government housing or a homeless shelter. Her group wants to provide the home and tools for working people to avoid future problems.
“By the time somebody experiences homelessness, we’re already seeing their life expectancy shortened by 30 to 40 years, and it’s such a reactive model,” said Rehn.
She called it “workforce housing” and said she thinks the City Center Lofts can be a blueprint for other communities.
“We really, truly do believe we can end housing instability once and for all. We can do that here in Green Bay, and then we can end it with a model that can be replicated eventually coast to coast,” said Rehn.
Rehn also said 10% of the tenant’s agreed upon lease gets put into a future savings account for them. It’s another way The Gateway Collective helps the tenants prepare for the future, while enjoying their downtown loft in the present.
