They r going to build low income housing in Midtown! Great step to build up the area!

[Newdetroit]

Part of the article is below....I have nothing against the poor, but don't we need to bring in more upscale housing for urban professionals in Midtown????

Last week, ground broke on Cornerstone Estates, a low-rise housing development that will be situated east of the Lodge Freeway and south of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, at the site of the former Jeffries East Projects. The Detroit Housing Commission project will be completed in 2012 and will include four one-bedroom, 88 two-bedroom, 68 three-bedroom and 20 four-bedroom units; landscaped open space; and a community building.

Developer for Cornerstone Estates is Scripps Park Associates, LLC, a team comprised of Herbert J. Strather of Detroit , the Slavik Company of Bingham Farms, the Rosenberg Housing Group, Inc. of New York City and Washington, D.C., and Premier Property Management of Detroit. The units will be constructed under the HUD-sponsored HOPE VI revitalization program, administered by the Detroit Housing Commission.

[RickBeall]

... replace one failed housing project with another? !! That's not very creative.

[EastsideAl]

Yes, what the hell did we tear the projects down for if it wasn't to make all those poor people leave?

I think they should just all be moved to Sterling Heights.

[gdogslim]

everyone would be better off if they just wrote a check and gave it to them for housing. let the free market handle it, not da guvmint.

[DetroitPlanner]

This is terrible!!! We need more upscale housing that remains vacant like the Elington Lofts.

Presonally I think it is should be up a law that all developers set aside a small percentage of thier development for low income housing. Ideally this would help solve many of the social issues that keep people in proverty. I can't mention stuff like this without hearing cries of "social engineering", "property rights", or "socialist commie". I would hope people would do this because it is the right thing to do, but people never do the right thing, they do the most profitable thing.

[bailey]

This is terrible!!! We need more upscale housing that remains vacant like the Elington Lofts.

yeah, I mean look at Chicago... They have section 8 housing all up and down Lakshore and Michigan. It's awesome how they put the poor folks in the most valuable realestate.

Presonally I think it is should be up a law that all developers set aside a small percentage of thier development for low income housing. Ideally this would help solve many of the social issues that keep people in proverty. I can't mention stuff like this without hearing cries of "social engineering", "property rights", or "socialist commie". I would hope people would do this because it is the right thing to do, but people never do the right thing, they do the most profitable thing.

Well, why aren't you out building a housing development for the poor? I bet you are working at a job somewhere, making a profit for yourself... as in getting a paycheck and saving for your future. Why do you hate the poor so much that you are not letting a family live in your house for free. Or not purchasing a home for them with your 401k for them to live in for free?

[fryar]

Make it vouchers and such. That's better than forcing low-cost units on landlords, because those units end up not getting renovated. My 2 cents, anyway.

You can have a project amongst the yuppies and still have that work if it's not too intimidating a project.

[lincoln8740]

So they had to tear down the previous development because the Detroit Housing Authority ran it into the ground. Now they are building a brand new development and giving it right back into the hands of the same people!!

This place will be dope central within a year and will be destroyed within two years.

The only positive is that maybe it will get the dope boys in the area to become centrally located within the project and maybe Peterboro will no longer be the hot spot that it currently is.

Fingers crossed!

[Bearinabox]

yeah, I mean look at Chicago... They have section 8 housing all up and down Lakshore and Michigan. It's awesome how they put the poor folks in the most valuable realestate.

You think MLK and the Lodge is valuable real estate? On one side, you have that NSO where cracked-out schizophrenic homeless people sit around on discarded car seats all day and talk to themselves, and on the other side you have a six-lane expressway. Why would any "urban professionals" or whatever even want to live there, when they could just move into the Park Shelton or something?

[Danny]

... replace one failed housing project with another? !! That's not very creative.

I agree, that area should have been reserved for fancy housing and condos for those who have MONEY! Not for those who don't have the money like those who are sitting on welfare checks. Plus its a bad place to put low income housing next to MOTOR CITY CASINOS plus MGM GRAND CASINO!

[rhythmc]

It's always interesting to hear of new development in Detroit. When the development is market rate or upscale, everybody starts the whole "who would pay for that in Detroit?" thing. Now that it's low income, the comments are "why would they build low income housing in a popular, viable area?" Detroit, like every other major city, needs housing for low income people. Given the loss of units for Woodbridge Estates [[or whatever it's called), I'm surprised this wasn't the case sooner.

I am a proponent of mixed income development. I believe it is really the only means for building viable communities for everyone. The lack of this type of development is why Detroit is in the shape that it is. Implementing it properly has benefits for everyone and would alleviate many of the problems associated with many of the regions jobs being located well outside of the city whether they are custodians, retail associates, or office.

[detroitdoc]

This is terrible!!! We need more upscale housing that remains vacant like the Elington Lofts.

Presonally I think it is should be up a law that all developers set aside a small percentage of thier development for low income housing. Ideally this would help solve many of the social issues that keep people in proverty. I can't mention stuff like this without hearing cries of "social engineering", "property rights", or "socialist commie". I would hope people would do this because it is the right thing to do, but people never do the right thing, they do the most profitable thing.

Actually, the Ellington has 2 units left. And Willy's Lofts are selling like hotcakes.

[DetroitDad]

I agree, that area should have been reserved for fancy housing and condos for those who have MONEY! Not for those who don't have the money like those who are sitting on welfare checks. Plus its a bad place to put low income housing next to MOTOR CITY CASINOS plus MGM GRAND CASINO!

What are you talking about Danny? That sounds like a great way to help out Motor City Casino!

[RickBeall]

DetroitPlanner wrote:
>>Presonally I think it is should be up a law that all developers set aside a small percentage of thier development for low income housing.

And we should set aside some cash for healthcare and food for them too. You would not want them to suffer.

[tallboy66]

I thought they had that planned as mixed use when they tore down half the projects? Did they tear down the rest?

Chicago, NYC and probably other large cities have mixed income housing this might work for Detroit , besides all the richies can just drive right into the garage and not even have to deal with "those" people hanging out on the sidewalk.

[Newdetroit]

No, people will just avoid the area..It's the sad truth. What is all this talk about mixed use...The city of Detroit has enough areas of poverty...Should we not try to have a two mile area in the city that is middle class to up scale living...Or is this too repugnant of an idea for social activitists???

[RickBeall]

Imagine if you fixed up those towers overlooking the two stadiums and sold the apartments in them to sports lovers who had jobs. It would be a success.

[Rocko]

I'm not at all familiar with this project...is this at all similar to the Woodbridge Estates project across the Lodge?

[BVos]

Cornerstone is the former Jeffries East homes, part of the former Jeffries homes that are now called Woodbridge Estates. The development is mixed income, just like all Detroit Housing Commission redevelopments being built. It will be a mix of public housing, affordable housing and market rate. It will have a very high quality design to it, not at all like "typical" public housing. In fact most folks would be of the opinion that the design is way better than most suburban apartment crap built these days. It will be privately managed.

Woodbridge has several homes and condos that sold for over $200k, of course back during the hey days of real estate. Woodbridge continues to have occupancy at or above 95%, the same occupancy level it's had for the past several years since the first units opened. In fact, nearly all DHC properties are at or above 95% occupancy. That's almost unheard of in this economy anywhere in the country.

The NSO building is being closed and the services offered there moved to another location.

[Rocko]

Thanks for the info BVos. I've heard good things about Woodbridge Estates' redevelopment and hopefully the same can be said for this new development across the freeway once it is complete. I'm not opposed to development like this, since hopefully it'll be a draw for some new residents into the city to help stem the outward flow of population. If they are smart they'll build off the existing street pattern in this development and keep things in line with the grid pattern of the surrounding streets. A close tie with the school [[Malcolm X) across the street could be mutually beneficial. If only they could carry on the momentum or development toward the east toward Woodward....and this might also be a positive influence on cleaning up Cass Park, too!

[wolverine]

Presonally I think it is should be up a law that all developers set aside a small percentage of thier development for low income housing.

I thought there already was. I've even seen it where large scale high end housing with hundreds of units have met the requirements by constructing a smaller building with low income units nearby

[rhythmc]

No, people will just avoid the area..It's the sad truth. What is all this talk about mixed use...The city of Detroit has enough areas of poverty...Should we not try to have a two mile area in the city that is middle class to up scale living...Or is this too repugnant of an idea for social activitists???

I'll assume you mean mixed income. The problem with the many areas being areas of poverty is the lack of other income levels. This generally means a whole area of poor people living without. Mixed income doesn't mean give people something for nothing. It is a legitimate means of development that will mean the difference between a job that is a 10 min walk/2 min bus ride away vs. the 1.5 hour bus ride many residents in poorer areas of Detroit have to endure to get to jobs out of the county when they do not own a car. For all of the people above the poverty level living in the area, it means people to work in the grocery store or in other capacities that the higher income level holders likely won't do.

I'm not sure why mixed income comments get such a bad rap. Everyone that is poor is not an aimless criminal. Many just need a true opportunity to make ends meet to improve prospects for their family. If implemented properly, I don't see why mixed income development shouldn't become the standard everywhere in this country. Mixed income development can work.

[wolverine]

It's already been proven that mixed income neighborhoods work, even ones that replaced housing projects. Cabrini Green these days in Chicago is pretty nice. Many of the townhomes and apartment buildings will be turning 15 years old soon. They look like they are in perfect condition, just the same as when they opened.

Photo Taken 2009, built in the mid 90's under HOPE VI


Though the apartments and condos are WAY overpriced for the amount of square footage and architectural finishes, people are still moving in....professionals living next to former housing project residents.

[Stosh]

I'll assume you mean mixed income. The problem with the many areas being areas of poverty is the lack of other income levels. This generally means a whole area of poor people living without. Mixed income doesn't mean give people something for nothing. It is a legitimate means of development that will mean the difference between a job that is a 10 min walk/2 min bus ride away vs. the 1.5 hour bus ride many residents in poorer areas of Detroit have to endure to get to jobs out of the county when they do not own a car. For all of the people above the poverty level living in the area, it means people to work in the grocery store or in other capacities that the higher income level holders likely won't do.

I'm not sure why mixed income comments get such a bad rap. Everyone that is poor is not an aimless criminal. Many just need a true opportunity to make ends meet to improve prospects for their family. If implemented properly, I don't see why mixed income development shouldn't become the standard everywhere in this country. Mixed income development can work.

There are places that require a percentage of homes to be built as mixed income properties. One of the ways that this could work would be a co-op setup of sorts, with limited ownership rights and a process to move in, and stay within rules set by the co-op.

[Hermod]

How about buildings with 50% of the units being Wayne State dorms and 50% Section 8?

Give the "elitists" some diversity.