A long-vacant landmark on Detroit's northwest side is back in business, this time serving seniors instead of students. The former Lewis College of Business campus has been reborn as Dr. Violet T. Lewis Village, a 105-unit affordable senior housing community for residents 55 and older. The project blends historic preservation with new construction to tackle a stubborn shortage of affordable senior homes while keeping Dr. Violet T. Lewis' legacy front and center.
Developers, Price and Site
According to the City of Detroit, the $29.3 million development sits at 17370 Meyers Road and delivers 105 apartments for older adults. A sales sheet from Presbyterian Villages of Michigan notes that the community combines the adaptive reuse of two historic campus buildings, which now hold 32 apartments, with a new four-story building that adds another 73 units.
Funding and Partners
Financing leaned heavily on federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, with additional gap funding from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, city HOME funds, and American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The project also drew support from The Kresge Foundation and several lenders, developers said in a press release from Wallick. The opening and ribbon-cutting drew local coverage as well, including a video segment by The Detroit News.
Rents, Amenities and Eligibility
The development is fully income-restricted, serving households at roughly 30% to 80% of area median income, or about $20,160 to $69,120 per year. Monthly rents run from about $427 to $983, depending on unit type and building, according to the developer's materials. Apartment homes feature Energy Star appliances, luxury vinyl flooring, and patios or balconies, while the property itself includes on-site management along with fitness and community spaces, per Presbyterian Villages of Michigan.
Honoring Violet T. Lewis
The village sits on the former Lewis College of Business grounds, the campus founded by Dr. Violet T. Lewis. Community leaders and family members joined a November ribbon-cutting that organizers described as both a housing milestone and a preservation of Black educational history. "I'm so glad that Presbyterian Villages has preserved Violet Lewis' legacy as part of this beautiful new community," Mayor Mike Duggan said, according to the Michigan Chronicle.
Why It Matters for Detroit
City planners and housing advocates have repeatedly flagged senior housing as a growing concern as subsidized buildings age and older Detroiters try to stay in their neighborhoods. A Detroit senior housing report lists Dr. Violet T. Lewis Village in the development pipeline and calls for more preservation and new construction for older residents, according to the City of Detroit. The city's five-year capital plan has directed HOME and ARPA dollars toward projects like Violet T. Lewis Village as part of a broader push to expand affordable options for seniors.
Leasing is now open. Interested seniors can apply by phone at 313-270-9150 or through the Presbyterian Villages of Michigan website, organizers told the Michigan Chronicle. Developers say the project is designed to help longtime Detroit residents age in place while adding badly needed affordable units to the city's housing stock.
