This fall, construction is expected to get underway on the first new house to be built in the historic Detroit neighborhood of Indian Village in nearly a quarter of a century.
New homes are a rarity for the east-side neighborhood, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972 and filled with stately mansions dating back to around the turn of the century. In a city with plenty of vacant land, the Indian Village area stands as one neighborhood with few undeveloped lots. Those that are available, however, tend to sit on the market, experts say, as the time and treasure associated with building in a historic district can be significant.The process to construct a new house in Indian Village involves approval of various design elements to ensure compatibility with the neighborhood's historic nature, as well as public meetings and input from neighbors and the city's Historic District Commission.

Given the time and numerous approvals needed, some Realtors working in the area say it can be far easier to buy an existing home rather than try to build new.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...house-20-years