Couvreur, Joseph G.

Joseph G. Couvreur, is a shareholder with Randall A. Pentiuk and Kurt M. Kobiljak at the firm of Pentiuk, Couvreur, & Kobiljak, P.C. Since 1989, Joseph G. Couvreur and Randall A. Pentiuk have worked together to assist housing cooperatives in addressing the multitude of legal matters which cooperatives encounter. Mr. Couvreur is lead attorney on business and estate planning matters at Pentiuk, Couvreur, & Kobiljak, P.C. He advises business owners regarding all types of business matters including financing, employment and transactional matters. Mr. Couvreur handles the preparation of estate planning documents, which are drafted to minimize or avoid probate proceedings. He also handles probate estates through various procedures whenever probate is necessary.

Mr. Couvreur is the lead attorney in cooperative financing matters. He continues to work with cooperatives in obtaining funding to meet the needs of each respective cooperative. Many loans have been used to refinance the initial development loans which were provided by or insured by HUD.  The refinancing transactions have involved both limited equity and market rate cooperatives.  The limited equity refinancing transactions have sometimes involved the decoupling of interest reduction payments and the deferral of the payment of flexible subsidy loans from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Joseph G. Couvreur works with various lenders to obtain the appropriate financing for each respective cooperative.

 Joseph G. Couvreur also works with other multi-family housing entities.  Financing has been obtained on behalf of for profit and nonprofit apartments.  He has worked with the Taylor Community Development Corporation which manages multiple affordable housing properties. One project involved the Taylor Community Development Corporation obtaining  a $5,991,981.00 Green Retrofit Loan provided by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.  Another project involved obtaining from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, a Section 223(a)(7) loan for the Commons at the Villages of Taylor.

Joseph G. Couvreur works closely with Randall A. Pentiuk and members of our firm to assist cooperative leadership to effectively address the variety of issues which arise in each cooperative.  This assistance includes researching and preparing legal opinions, reviewing and revising organizational documents, drafting contracts, construction, share loan, municipal building code enforcement, zoning, and property tax assessment issues.  Joseph G. Couvreur has extensive experience in the municipal area.  This experience has proved valuable in assisting multi-family clients with issues involving municipal building codes and enforcement, zoning issues, real property taxation, and payment in lieu of taxes matters. 

Joseph G. Couvreur has taught courses at conferences presented by the Midwest Association of Housing Cooperatives (MAHC) and has written articles for the MAHC Messenger.  He has spoken at various cooperative education seminars.  He has taught in forums presented for cooperative members which have involved limited equity/market rate and cooperative/condominium related issues.  

Mr. Couvreur is a lifetime resident of the Detroit area, residing for most of his life in Allen Park. He has a bachelor's degree in public administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from Wayne State University. Mr. Couvreur graduated from Wayne State Law School in 1988.  He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan and all Federal Courts in the State of Michigan in 1988.  He is a member of the Real Property Law and Taxation Section of the State Bar of Michigan.  He is also a member of the Elder Law and Disability Rights and Probate and Estate Planning Sections of the State Bar of Michigan.  He received a Bachelors degree in Public Policy Analysis from Wayne State University in 1985.  In 1988 he received his Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State Law School.  While in law school he was a Board member of the Free Legal Aid Clinic and worked in the Law School Library.  He utilizes the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE); Lexis total research system and other legal resources to maintain and hone his legal skills.

Mr. Couvreur's community-minded outlook started even back while he was at law school, as he served on the Board of Directors of a Free Legal Aid Clinic, which provided free legal services to those unable to provide for themselves. Currently, he is active in Downriver Community Christian Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher. He has provided legal services to Christ Net, a non-profit homeless shelter. Mr. Couvreur was the former director of Grateful Home, a shelter for battered women and children in Detroit. The work of Grateful Home in providing shelter and education for women and children continues to be provided by the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries. He has also conducted numerous legal seminars on topics such as the Freedom of Information Act and Estate Planning. He also serves on the Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Board and graduated from Vision 21.

He is active in the Downriver Christian Community Church and has participated in mission trips to Jamaica and Mexico.  He has handled the establishment of  numerous nonprofit civic organizations and continues to advise such organizations.  Joseph G. Couvreur previously was the President of Grateful Home in Detroit, a shelter for battered women and children which is now operated by the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.  Joseph Couvreur is married with four children. He enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and family.