An innovative new project will happen later this year on a vacant site close to Michigan Central. The Gilbert Family Foundation is working with the North Corktown Neighborhood Association (NCNA) on Tomorrow’s Housing Innovation Showcase (THIS), bringing nine factory-built homes to the neighborhood.
The site is at 16th Street and Perry, near the I-75 Service Drive. It's in a part of North Corktown that hasn't seen development in years and has many vacant sites nearby.
The NCNA is working with its community and different manufacturers on the sustainable, energy-efficient homes. The NCNA will have a community land trust with the goal of having these homes accessible to first-time homebuyers and renters.
“For years, we’ve heard from our residents that North Corktown needs diverse housing
options, and this project is one solution to address the housing gaps,” said Tricia Talley,
NCNA Executive Director. “We appreciate the support of residents who are proud to call
North Corktown home and want to collaborate on bringing the project to life.”
The groups plan to unveil the new homes in late summer. The community will be engaged with design and how the land trust will work. Tribe Development, who's also working on the Deco on East Warren, will be helping with the community meetings.
While Corktown has been booming with development over the last 10 years, North Corktown hasn't seen the same level of investment. Some single-family and townhomes have been built in recent years, but there's still a lot of land sitting empty in a prime location in the city.
“At one time in our history, Detroit built more housing than any city in the world, but today, Detroit lacks quality, affordable housing solutions,” said Laura Grannemann, Executive Director of the Gilbert Family Foundation. “This investment will showcase the next generation of housing solutions, putting Detroit at the center of housing innovation and attracting future jobs and investment to our city. We are grateful for this opportunity to lay the groundwork for a more stable housing ecosystem alongside our partners at North Corktown Neighborhood Association.”
