The McFarlan Charitable Corporation and Presbyterian Villages of Michigan, two leading nonprofit organizations, are pleased to announce the Community Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting and 100th Anniversary Celebration for the McFarlan Home for Women and McFarlan Villages (formerly Court Street Villages).
The event will take place at 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 5. The public is invited to attend the program and tour the senior community’s comprehensive renovations. Refreshments will be served.
McFarlan Villages represents a partnership between the McFarlan Charitable Corporation and Presbyterian Villages of Michigan and includes a comprehensive renovation of two senior communities with a total of 268 affordable apartments. It will serve individuals age 55 and over. This over $45 million-dollar development was funded through the participation of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), Enterprise Community Partners, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), RiverHills Bank, Chase Bank, CPC Mortgage Company, the City of Flint, the Flint Housing Commission and philanthropic support, including grant fundings from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Weinberg Foundation, Bishop Foundation, and Dr. William Pickard Foundation. Additionally, the Woodyard-Pickard building is a certified green building.
An economic assessment (completed by TJ1 Consulting, LLC, Jim Townsend JD MBA MPP and Ben Eikey MPP) estimated an impact of nearly $90 million to the surrounding region over the next ten years. Close cooperation was provided by the City of Flint in the planning and approval of the development which is perfectly situated between downtown and the cultural district.
The project has become a modern, sustainable community hub encompassing comprehensive upgrades to housing units, community spaces and essential infrastructure designed to improve community life.
- There are 268 fully modernized residential units
- Energy efficient systems
- Enhanced accessibility features
- A new community center with multipurpose spaces
- Updated landscaping and green spaces
- Improved safety and security features
2025 marks the centennial anniversary for the McFarlan Home for Women. It was founded through the generosity of Mary McFarlan Whaley and the Charitable Trust that she established in the 1920s. During its first 100 years the McFarlan organization has served thousands of seniors in Flint; for decades with the McFarlan Home on Kearsley Street and in the past ten years expanded to preserve and renew McFarlan Villages (formerly known as Court Street Villages) as they were at immediate risk of being lost to the community due to a pending foreclosure.
Commenting on the Celebration, Kathryn Boles, President, of the McFarlan Board stated, “The McFarlan Board of Directors is very passionate about our role of ensuring that older adults have safe and affordable housing opportunities in order to age successfully within our community.”
“This celebration is not only a milestone marking 100 years of service—it’s a testament to the power of vision, resilience, and partnership,” said Kahlia Harper, Executive Director of McFarlan Villages.
We’re excited to welcome the public into this vibrant space designed to support aging with dignity and purpose.” “This is more than a ribbon-cutting, it’s a rebirth,” said Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley. “For 100 years, the McFarlan legacy has stood for compassion, care, and community. This revitalization of McFarlan Villages and Court Street not only honors that legacy, but builds a stronger, more equitable future for Flint seniors. We are proud to stand alongside our partners to preserve affordable housing and improve quality of life for generations to come.”
“At MSHDA, “McFarlan Villages Court Street is a powerful example of what’s possible when mission-driven partners come together to preserve and renew affordable housing,” said Amy Hovey, MSHDA CEO and Executive Director. “MSHDA is proud to have invested in this project, not only because it safeguards 268 affordable homes for Flint-area seniors, but because it honors the legacy of service established by the McFarlan Charitable Corporation 100 years ago. This development strengthens the community, fuels local economic growth, and ensures older adults can age in place with dignity and stability.”
“It’s so important for seniors in Flint to have access to safe and affordable housing,” said Ridgway White, Mott Foundation president and CEO. “The Mott Foundation was pleased to help support renovations at Court Street Villages that helped the buildings become not only more energy efficient, but also more welcoming. That’s a win-win for Flint residents.”
