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Reviving neighborhoods is certain to become a central issue in this year's Detroit mayoral race. Critics say Mayor Mike Duggan, seeking a second term, has focused too much on downtown, Corktown and Midtown and not enough on declining residential areas.
But on Wednesday, city hall was all about the Fitzgerald neighborhood in northwest Detroit around McNichols and Livernois.
The mayor sees this northwest project as a model for other areas. (City of Detroit renderings)
Duggan plans to move forward with a two-year, $4 million project to renovate 115 vacant homes, which will be a mixture of rental properties and for sale homes priced at the neighborhood market rate. Twenty percent of the homes will be affordable for Detroit families making 80 percent or less of the area median income, the city says.
Additionally, the project will include landscaping and maintenance of 192 vacant lots and creation of a two-acre park. Most of the property is owned by the Detroit Land Bank.
“This project is about creating opportunity and working together to strengthen our neighborhoods,” Duggan says in a statement. “Whether you’re a renter or homeowner or someone who just wants to live in this neighborhood, there’s a place for you in Fitzgerald. This is the kind of work we’ll be doing in neighborhoods across the city.”
The city hopes the project can serve as a model for other neighborhoods.
The plan is to begin this fall with the rehabilitation of the 115 homes, demolition of the 16 blighted structures and installation of landscapes on the 192 vacant lots.
Completion is envisioned by fall 2019, with rehabbed homes occupied by families.
Aaron Foley, who joined Duggan's staff March 27 as "chief storyteller," tweets this reply to concerns about possible displacement:
"The developers and the City did this with neighbors in mind. 40 meetings held with resident input. No one will be moved."
The city and partners Kresge Foundation, Knight Foundation, JPB Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation will invest more than $4 million in the Fitzgerald Revitalization Project. A development team is led by developers Century Partners and The Platform.
The Fitzgerald Revitalization Project will feature renovated homes, a new park, a green belt and productive landscapes.
The rendering below symbolizes vacant homes to be renovated.
