A new affordable housing development broke ground in Southwest Detroit on Friday. La Joya Gardens will bring 53 apartments and retail to the neighborhood.
The new construction is located on a vacant parcel at 4000 Vernor Highway, close to El Club and a few blocks from Clark Park. It's also fairly close to Michigan Central.
The $24 million development will have 47 one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom apartments. 42 of these units will be for those earning between 30-80% Area Median Income. The development will also have 6,000 square feet of retail space and 1,500 square feet of community flex space. A landscaped plaza will be in front of the businesses, and a cafe will be available for neighborhood businesses and entrepreneurs.
The community engagement process for this development started in 2018. Residents and businesses were able to engage with the developers and architects in that process.
The development is being led by the Southwest Detroit Business Association and Cinnaire Solutions. It was designed by SITIO Architecture + Urbanism.
City of Detroit
"My six policy priorities include housing and equitable development, so I am thrilled to be here today to celebrate the groundbreaking of La Joya Gardens. Projects like these are what transform our neighborhoods,” said Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero. “When we leverage funding to invest in real estate that becomes an affordable home to residents and provides opportunities for a small business owners to realize their dreams of a brick-and-mortar location, we all win."
The project is part of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund, an effort between the city, Invest Detroit, corporate funders, and residents to revitalize Detroit neighborhoods. In Southwest Detroit, this has included a revamp of Clark Park and the Brooke on Bagley development currently under construction.
La Joya Gardens is expected to be completed by next summer.
