Detroit Public Schools will hold a major Property Developers Conference entitled "Old Schools, New Uses: Reinventing Vacant School Buildings & Sites in Detroit for Innovative Redevelopment" on Thursday, March 13, 2014 from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Registration, which costs $65 per person, has begun for the event which will be held at Gleaners Community Food Bank, 2131 Beaufait, Detroit MI 48207.

The $65 Registration fee includes refreshments, lunch, and valuable information and takeaways on dozens of featured Detroit Public Schools properties.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will offer the keynote to attendees. DPS Emergency Manager Jack Martin also will address the participants.


INVEST | INNOVATE | INSPIRE
About the event:

Detroit Public Schools will highlight surplus property in prime development locations throughout the city, including waterfront property, property located in the highly-sought Midtown district, developing Downtown area, in numerous neighborhoods, property located in the Detroit Future City target areas, and properties located in neighborhoods designated as Building Sustainable Communities by Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation [[LISC). At the end of the conference, networking opportunities will be provided to negotiate deals and sign on-the-spot purchase agreements. Optional shuttle tours of sites are available.


What you'll learn:

Learn what you need to broker a purchase with Detroit Public Schools, and how the school properties fit with the city's long range redevelopment vision. Information will be provided on the new school re-use zoning ordinance, land use permits, examples of school buildings that have been reused, tax credits and other funding opportunities.

Who Should Attend?

This event will offer useful information and technical details and seeks to inspire developers who are passionate about the City. Networking will be available for commercial and residential real estate brokers, developers and investors who are in the market for large or bundled parcels or facilities in the City of Detroit.

This event will showcase dozens of Detroit Public Schools' sites and buildings and provide investors, developers, and builders with site specific details, and an overview about how to purchase real estate from DPS and navigate City development review processes.

Panels and Speakers:

  • Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan
  • DPS Emergency Manager Jack Martin
  • Dan Kinkead, Director of Projects, Detroit Future City
  • Funding Panel discussion including Tahirih Ziegler, Executive Director of Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation [[LISC) and bankers
  • Tammy Deane, DPS Real Estate Manager
  • Kirby Burkholder, Executive Director - Eastern Region IFF, discussing financing options and strategies for nonprofits
  • Representatives from the City of Detroit Planning and Development Department to speak about the school reuse zoning ordinance
  • Developers to discuss various redevelopment projects including the Leland Lofts, Burton Theater, and the Detroit Music School
  • Architects experienced in adaptive re-use projects


Attend this event and learn how to:

  • Reuse, preserve, and redevelop historic buildings to become a vital part of the community
  • Work with DPS and the City to acquire land use permits, approvals, and properties
  • Gain resources and information about funding through historic designation and tax credits
  • Explore the School Building Adaptive Reuse Zoning Ordinance Amendment

Sponsors include Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation [[LISC), Plante Moran and ASTI Environmental.
Register here. You may also call the DPS Real Estate Department at [[313) 719-0230 or [[313) 421-6015.
Looks like DPS is having a special event to announce all of its empty/vacant properties and unused equipment. I wonder how many takers will there be, and what types of redevelopment can come from this?