100-year-old blighted Detroit building to be redeveloped into residential units

DETROIT – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that a blighted hundred-year-old building in Detroit’s North End will be redeveloped into residential units with funding from local and state programs.

The building is located at 9301 Oakland Avenue and will redeveloped into 10 residential units and 5,200 square feet of commercial space.

This project is supported by $507,713 from the Revitalization and Placemaking program and is expected to generate a capital investment of $3,202,007, according to a release from Whitmer’s office.

Stafford House, Inc., the developer of the project, will also use the following local and state funds for the project:

• $249,959 PA 210 Tax Abatement from the city of Detroit

• $75,000 grant from Detroit Economic Growth Corporation’s Motor City Match Program

• $91,000 grant from the city’s Housing & Revitalization Department’s ASA Accessibility Program

• $14,840 environmental grant from Wayne County

• $800,000 Michigan State Housing Development Authority Missing Middle grant

“This development will eliminate neighborhood blight and address the shortage of affordable housing,” said Lendon Crosby, chairman and president of Stafford House. “Our project will offer workforce development and technology training in the commercial space that will create a pipeline for manufacturing jobs. The rich history of Oakland Ave. will also be preserved by the renovation of this historic building. This beacon of light will begin a resurgence of commercial services and amenities coming to Oakland Ave.”

Whitmer announced that a long-vacant building in Alma at 311 E. Superior Street will also be redeveloped into residential units and a commercial storefront.

This building is in a National Register of Historic Places district, according to the release, and will get a $1,162,000 Revitalization and Placemaking grant for updates.

These two projects will create 19 residential units and generate a total capital investment of over $6.2 million.

“Today’s projects in Detroit and Alma will revitalize abandoned buildings into new housing and space for small businesses,” said Whitmer. “The RAP program helps us make our big cities and small towns better, more affordable places to live, work, and do business. These investments show how we’re improving quality of life for Michiganders by replacing old, abandoned buildings with new ones that give more Michiganders an affordable place to live or start or grow their own business. Let’s keep working together to lower costs for buyers and renters and reinvest in our communities.”