The city of Detroit is welcoming a significant boost in its affordable housing arsenal, with the groundbreaking of the Preserve on Ash I in North Corktown. The project is part of a forthcoming injection of nearly 600 new and preserved units of affordable housing in the Greater Corktown area. This ambitious effort is being backed by a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods grant from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) that was awarded to the city back in 2021. Mayor Mike Duggan celebrated this step forward, expressing gratitude for the various partners involved and emphasizing the inclusive nature of Detroit’s renaissance. "As Detroit comes back, we are building the city in a way that includes Detroiters of all income levels who stayed, rather than pushing them out," Duggan said in a statement obtained by detroitmi.gov.
Under the umbrella of a larger $1 billion citywide investment in affordable housing, the Preserve on Ash is parceled into multiple phases. The initial phase ushers in 69 mixed-income housing units and retail space spanning 5,800 square feet. Units will cater to varying income brackets, with 48 units being designated for incomes restricted at or below 30% to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Details shared by detroitmi.gov further describe the development's incorporation of seven units for mobility-impaired residents and others for individuals with hearing or visual impairments.
The project has garnered support from an extensive list of stakeholders, including federal funding and strategic investments from state and city authorities. Alongside HUD’s major grant, The Community Builders—a stalwart nonprofit housing organization tasked with the development—have championed the cause. "we are thrilled to join Mayor Duggan, partners and neighbors to break ground on Preserve on Ash I," stated Bart Mitchell, president and CEO of The Community Builders, according to a detroitmi.gov article.
Among the financial backers, President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Michigan Strategic Fund's support are notable, with a $2.3 million Community Revitalization Program loan reaffirming Michigan’s commitment to battling the housing crisis. Similarly, Detroit City Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero weighed in on the development, underscoring the necessity of such affordable housing units for Corktown's community. "This first phase will bring 48 desperately needed affordable housing units to Corktown, one of the City’s oldest and fasting growing neighborhoods," Santiago-Romero said in a statement to detroitmi.gov.
The revitalizing impact of the Preserve on Ash isn’t isolated. It complements nearby burgeoning enterprises, including Ford Motor Company’s revitalization of Michigan Central Station, and aligns with the city's broader agenda of making Detroit a hub of affordable living without uprooting its longstanding residents. The unfolding phases of the project promise not only new dwellings but also sustained neighborhood renewal, pegged to commence the next phase in the following year, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
