A new mixed-use development officially broke ground in the Live6 area. The Sawyer Art Apartments will bring 38 residential units and 6,000 square feet of commercial space to West McNichols.
The development will have eight studios, 17 one-bedrooms and 13 two-bedroom units. The residential units will be offered as affordable to those making 60 to 80 percent of the Area Median Income—or people making between $34,000 and $45,000. Commercial rents will also be lower to spur retail activity along the corridor.
The $10.8 million development is led by Black developers URGE Development Group, N’Namdi Holdings and Hosey Development. It's supported by the City of Detroit, Invest Detroit, Capital Impact, and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, and it's also part of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund. It's received funding the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy through the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.
“The Sawyer Art Apartments is an example of the type of catalytic projects that are needed and possible throughout the neighborhood in Detroit,” said Roderick Hardamon, CEO of URGE Development Group. “These projects are challenging and need the collective support of the City, State, private financing, and foundation support. But, when done right, the impact cannot be understated.”
Streetscaping has been completed along McNichols, and the addition of coffee shops and similar amenities for the neighborhood—including the University of Detroit Mercy and Marygrove College—will help make the neighborhood more walkable. The development is replacing long-vacant buildings along the corridor.
The building is named after contemporary Detroit artist Tylonn Sawyer. A collection of his works will be installed at the building, helping to beautify the neighborhood.
“The Sawyer Art Apartments will provide an example of how art can be infused into affordable housing so, not only are we beautifying and upscaling our neighborhoods, we are also providing cultural prospective and preserving legacy," says Dr. George R. N’Namdi, managing partner of N’Namdi Holding LLC and president of the N'Namdi Center for Contemporary Art in the Historic Sugar Hill Arts District in Midtown. "Through the integration of the arts this development will highlight Live6 and the Fitzgerald/Bagley neighborhood’s rich cultural legacy of African Americans injecting new energy, resources, activity, people and enthusiasm into its local economy.”
The Sawyer Art Apartments are expected to be completed in 2023.
