Battle Creek is reimagining housing — with ideas such as ADUs, cottage courts, and zoning reforms — to ensure affordability and inclusion across income levels. Kathy Antaya, a community volunteer, at right, and Lee Talmadge, Executive Director of the Battle Creek Housing Commission, voice their opinions about what could be done to address the city’s housing challenges. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Battle Creek to be 52,205 as of July 1, 2024. “This breaks down into 550-1,690 new renter households and between 350-1,070 owner households.”About 60 percent of Battle Creek residents are homeowners, and about 40 percent are renters. The median household income in Battle Creek, MI, was $51,699 in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.