Mayor, MSHDA announce 4 new major affordable & supportive housing projects bringing nearly 200 units

• Redevelopment of Clement Kern Gardens and former Herman Gardens public housing site among key projects approved thanks to $61M in Low Income Housing Credits over 10 years
• Noah at Central at Woodward and Adams will provide 32 units of new supportive housing
• New investment brings Detroit closer to $2 billion in affordable housing development in six years

The City of Detroit has been awarded four highly coveted 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits by the State of Michigan that will allow four deeply affordable priority housing developments in the city to move forward, creating nearly 200 more affordable and supportive housing units, Mayor Mike Duggan announced today.

Projects including key phases of the redevelopment of Clement Kern Gardens in Corktown and the former Herman Gardens along the Southfield Freeway. They also include nearly 40 units of new supportive housing at Central United Methodist Church in partnership with Noah at Central.

There are two types of LIHTC awards offered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), 4% awards that offer moderate affordability and 9%, which offer much deeper affordability for residents earning 30% or less of the area median income. All four Detroit projects received the 9% LIHTC award.

"To receive four new LIHTC awards and for each of them to provide a level of affordability for Detroiters of lowest income levels supports our mission to build a city that has a place for everyone," said Mayor Mike Duggan. "Detroit is going to need to continue building affordable housing at a high rate to meet demand and this will help Mayor Sheffield significantly. I am deeply grateful for our partners at MSHDA for these awards, and to our Department of Housing & Revitalization and the developers of these important projects.

Over the past six years, the city of Detroit and its partners have invested $1.7 billion into affordable housing construction, with more than $1 billion more being planned as part of the city's Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program to speed up affordable housing construction.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) awarded more than $6.1 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) per year for 10 years to support the creation or preservation of 183 more affordable housing units (not including future phases) in the city.

"Taken together, these investments represent a meaningful step forward for affordable housing in Detroit," said Tony Lentych, MSHDA's Chief Housing Investment Officer. "These developments will create new housing options for families, seniors, and residents with the greatest needs, while strengthening neighborhoods and supporting long-term stability. MSHDA is proud to partner with the city and developers to help ensure more Detroiters have access to safe, affordable places to call home."

Here is a summary of the projects now able to move forward that will bring 183 new units of affordable and supportive housing, thanks to the LIHTC awards announced by MSHDA:

Woodward + Adams. This $18 million project will be located inside Central United Methodist Church and will preserve the 110-year-old historic landmark in the city while providing 39 units of supportive housing for residents struggling with being unsheltered.

In addition to providing ongoing supportive services on site, Noah at Central also will provide renovated space for its mission work and aligned non-profit agencies, creating a vibrant community space for all. Their award is $16.5M for 39 units of Permanent Supportive Housing.

The Noah Project (now called Noah at Central) was founded in 1976. It currently serves 300 clients out of its offices at 23 Adams and serves 30,000 lunches per year to residents in need.

"For more than 25 years, Noah at Central and our partner, Central United Methodist Church, have been committed to ending homelessness by building relationships of dignity and trust," said Amy Brown, Executive Director of Noah at Central. "Our transformational Woodward + Adams housing project will make our historic location into a home and community that is welcoming to ALL Detroiters."

Bagley Central is also a part of the larger $30 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods grant Detroit was awarded in 2021 to help address rising property values and rents in Corktown. The first phases of Bagley Central are expected to open in 2027.

"We are excited to use this award to complete the final phase of the Clement Kern Gardens redevelopment as part of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative," said Jerry Krueger, President of American Community Developers, Inc. "We're proud to partner with the City, MSHDA and HUD in the transformation of historic Corktown."

Gardenview Townhomes and Gardenview Apartments. Developer MHT Housing received two LIHTC awards for separate phases of the redevelopment of long-vacant land along the Southfield Freeway near Tireman that is part of the site of the former Herman Gardens public housing.

The two projects will include a multi-unit apartment building and townhomes, both new construction developments. LIHTC Awards are approximately $14 million each phase.

MHT is responsible for a large number of affordable housing developments in Detroit, including the Jim Holley Residences, MLK on Second and the Sanctuary at Brewster Wheeler, which recently broke ground next to the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center, which MHT also is redeveloping.

We are beyond thrilled to partner with the Detroit Housing Commission, with the support of the City of Detroit, to receive the MSHDA awards for Gardenview Apartments and Townhomes to bring much needed affordable housing to the community," said MHT President Van Fox. "We cannot wait to get started!"

These projects will bring a total of 101 units with 1-3 bedrooms, all of which will be affordable at 30% - 80% AMI. Forty-nine of the units will be supported by Project Based Vouchers, which means that residents will never pay more than 30% of their monthly income for rent. Entry level rents for two-bedroom units will begin at $818 per month.