Three new developments totaling $102 million are planned for the Brush Park neighborhood, bringing 367 new residential units to the area, with 34% of those units at a wide-range of affordability for residents making as low as 30 percent of the Area Median Income, which is about $16,000 a year.
The three new projects add to the hundreds of new units under construction or in design in the Brush Park neighborhood, which has seen significant growth over the last five years with developments like City Modern and The Scott.
Two of the projects, Brush House and Brush 8, will be developed by locally-based developer City Growth Partners, led by Moddie Turay and David Howell. The third project, Brush + Watson, is owned by locally-based American Community Developers, Inc., one of Detroit’s leading affordable housing developers, and development partner Dr. Irvin Reid.
“As Detroit grows, we want to make sure that every Detroiter has an opportunity to participate in that growth,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “That means building truly mixed-income, quality, affordable housing in our neighborhoods like Brush Park and ensuring that anyone can live in any neighborhood in Detroit, no matter their income or background.”
Brush + Watson to build mixed-income housing with wide range of affordability options
One of the three projects, Brush + Watson, plans to add 180 new residential units to the neighborhood in a $45 million development. American Community Developers, Inc., will set aside 90 units, or 50 percent, as affordable units. Of those units, approximately 45 will be available for starting around $1,000 a month to residents making 80 percent of the Area Median Income, or about $39,000 a year. An additional 45 units will be available to residents making 30-60 percent of the Area Median Income or about $16-28,000 a year with rent starting around $400-700 a month. The Area Median Income is set annually by federal housing rules.
The project will also add 8,500 square feet of new street-level retail and 170 underground parking spaces for residents. The Brush + Watson project is expected to break ground in late 2019, and is expected to be completed by 2021.
“We applaud the Mayor’s commitment to affordable housing, especially in a neighborhood where housing costs have climbed so quickly,” said Mike Essian, Vice President of American Community Developers, Inc. “We plan to use this mixed-income model in Brush Park as a prototype for creating high-quality housing with rents that people can afford in neighborhoods across the City.” OOMBRA Architects is the design team working with ACD on this block.
More new construction coming to the neighborhood
Two more developments are coming to the neighborhood, both owned by Detroit-based developer City Growth Partners. Led by Moddie Turay and David Howell, City Growth Partners plan to build Brush House, a $52 million mixed-use development with 179 units, and Brush 8, a $5 million residential development that will bring eight new luxury townhomes to the area.
Brush House will feature 36 affordable units, 20 percent of the total units, at 80 percent of the area median income. These units will run about $900 a month for a one-bedroom and be available for residents making $39,000 a year or less. The development will also include 15,660 square feet of ground floor retail and 127 underground parking spaces. City Growth Partners expects to break ground on Brush House in fall 2019 and work is expected to be complete by 2021.
Brush 8, a luxury townhome development, will bring eight for-sale units to Brush Park. The $5 million, three-story development is also projected to break ground in fall 2019.
“We are honored that the city of Detroit has put their faith in our ability to add to the spirited, forward- thinking redevelopment of Brush Park. Our team is fully committed and looking forward to delivering two exceptional projects that add to the community and neighborhood,” said Moddie Turay, Founder and Principal Partner of City Growth Partners.
Brush Park rising as mixed-income neighborhood
The three new developments follow hundreds of new residential units under construction or in design in the Brush Park neighborhood. The estimated development pipeline shows that by 2024, Brush Park will have at least 1,750 new residential units with a range of affordable options, over 100,000 square feet of new retail and commercial space and 10 acres of new public green space. This, in addition to the renovations of many of the historic mansions and other private developments in the neighborhood. The number of new housing units permitted in Brush Park have helped put Detroit at the top of the list of most new housing units permitted in Michigan.
Of the 1,383 residential rental units in the pipeline, 340 of them, or 24 percent total, are designated at affordable rates between 30 percent and 80 percent of the area median income. The mix includes a third of the units at approximately $900 per month, a third at $700 per month and a third at approximately $500 per month or lower. The mix of income levels is part of the city’s work to ensure residents can find quality, affordable housing wherever there is growth.
“We are working every day to make sure neighborhood redevelopment is equitable and includes space for people of all incomes and backgrounds,” said Donald Rencher, Director of Housing and Revitalization. “Brush Park is one of Detroit’s fastest growing neighborhoods, and as the development boom continues, the City will continue to support projects that include quality, affordable housing.”
Source: City of Detroit
http://detroitmi.gov/News
