DETROIT – The push to revitalize Detroit neighborhoods got a huge boost from the Gilbert Family Foundation on Thursday, May 9.
It’s coming in the form of a $15 million investment that aims to bring back some of the city’s business districts.
There are many renovations across the city funded by the Strategic Neighborhood Fund, which received the $15 million for phase three.
The sights and sounds of construction are new in East English Village. The neighborhood having a say in who gets to develop and how is new too.
Single-family home developer Eddie Carrington said this new public/private partnership is giving him a unique opportunity.
“Luckily they chose me to take this sight and redevelop it into what you’re seeing now,” Carrington said.
Carrington brought Local 4 into an $8 million conversation that’s still under construction to get a look at the apartments he’s building -- all to go into affordable living programs.
“They haven’t seen anything like this in 20 years, so getting this project to this point really gives them the vision and the understanding that it’s not just Downtown/Midtown,” Carrington said.
On East Warren Street, there’s a shuttered Pizza Hut they’re using Strategic Neighborhood Fund money to re-develop into the East Warren Public Market, which will feature local produce, a fresh food market and even shared work spaces.
The bike lanes are an unexpected hit.
“I was actually pretty surprised at the amount of excitement from potential residents with regards to the bike lanes,” Carrington said.
The progress provides foundation and government money to provide momentum. Carrington said it’s working and there are three new projects set to start on East Warren that should keep the ball rolling for a brighter future.