Building Balance, the Wayland Way
By: Jennifer Antel – Mayor, City of Wayland,
October 20, 2025
Wayland’s success has always been rooted in balance: between growth and hometown character, between opportunity and accessibility. That balance is off when it comes to housing. As mayor, I hear from employers who want to hire more people but can’t find them locally, and from families who love Wayland yet struggle to find somewhere affordable to live.
The MI Home Program offers a practical framework to bring that balance.
This program invests $160 million each year to help communities expand their attainable housing stock. But just as important as the dollars is the philosophy behind them: “partnership over preemption.”
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“Partnership over preemption lets Wayland lead with our values and still get the tools we need to deliver results.”
— Jennifer Antel
Wayland doesn’t need Lansing to tell us what we need; we know what we need. We need collaboration, flexibility, and resources that empower our local planning efforts.
Our city has been proactive. We’ve streamlined zoning reviews, promoted downtown mixed-use redevelopment, and encouraged modest infill projects where infrastructure already exists. The MI Home Program complements these local efforts by rewarding communities that take initiative. It provides matching funds for zoning modernization, infrastructure alignment, and rehabilitation of aging homes—all while letting us maintain control of our development pattern.
Housing policy must respect context. What works in Detroit or Grand Rapids isn’t necessarily a winner in Wayland. The MI Home Program recognizes the diversity of Michigan’s communities and trusts them to make the right calls. It ensures that the state is a partner, rather than an obstacle.
If we want to keep young families, attract new workers, and give seniors the chance to stay in their communities when they downsize, we must be able to offer a healthy mix of housing types. This includes duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and attainable single-family homes.
Wayland can do that best when we have a balance of local leadership and state partnership.