Company name

*

Communities First, Inc.

Location of Company

*

Detroit / Flint

Name(s) of the developer. This would include the lead developer, architect, contractor and any community engagement leads.

*

Communities First, Inc

Is the development company a woman or minority owned business?

*

Woman owned

BIPOC

LGBTIA

N/A

What are any past projects that the developer company has completed in Detroit?

*

Gray Street Affordable Housing Development, Phase I & II

What are the total costs of the development?

*

approx. $26MM

Have you closed your financing?

*

Yes

No

Are you planning on asking for any of the following tax credits or subsidies?

*

Neighborhood Enterprise Zone

Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act

Public Act 210

Tax Increment Financing

HOME

CDBG

Detroit Housing Fund for the Future

Strategic Neighborhood Fund

Low Income Housing Tax Credit

New Markets Tax Credit

Other:

If yes to any of the options above, please indicate amount of award.

*

Currently updating construction numbers and revising proforma, not yet finalized.

What is the location of your development?

*

130 E. Grand Blvd

What neighborhood is this in?

*

Proposed number of units

*

54

Please indicate how many stories the finished product will as well as the square footage.

*

4

What is the array of bedrooms and their corresponding rents?

*

1 and 2 Bedrooms, targeting 30%, 60%, 80% AMI and Market Rate

What levels of affordability are going to be instituted, namely, AMI income restrictions and how many units will be at each level?

*

targeting 30%, 60%, 80% AMI and Market Rate

What is the plan for parking?

*

Parking available on site (surface lot partially covered by podium parking)

Do you need to rezone the parcel, or obtain a special land use? If so, please describe the current zoning and requested rezoning, as well as what, if any SLU you will ask for.

*

The proposed use of ‘Residential use combined in structures with permitted commercial use’ is permitted by-right per Sections 50-8-134(9) of the Detroit Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 50, subject to compliance with all relevant codes and ordinances.

What is your estimated date of breaking ground and what is you estimated time of completion?

*

Estimated ground breaking 2024, estimated completion 2025

Please describe your plan for community engagement on this project, including what stakeholders will be consulted, the number of meetings you will have and what mechanisms you will put in place for sharing and disseminating information.

*

Church of Messiah is managing aspects of community engagement. Outreach strategy includes seeking input and feedback as well as regular updates to the community. Several meetings have been held with various neighborhood groups and residents.

How do you intend to partner with the local neighborhood group in order to foster a healthy working relationship? Examples can include frequently coming to neighborhood association meetings as well as financial from time to time.

*

We partnered with Church of Messiah on this development to ensure that the neighborhoods needs and interests were included in the development as well as holding regular community meetings.

What environmental issues have you uncovered on the site? If there are any, please describe anticipated remediation plans.

*

The results of our Phase II ESA activities indicate the Site meets the definition of a “facility", remediation of the site will be completed as described in the Due Care Plan.

Are you willing to do a mailing to the houses in a 500 foot radius with information about the development project?

*

Yes

No

How will you improve public transit access? This could range from building a shelter at the nearest bus stop with lights, heat, and electric bus arrival signage, to adding public access to your lobby to allow transit users to wait comfortably year-round.

Site is located within short walking distance to public transit DDOT bus stops.

How will you improve access to other affordable transportation methods like walking or biking? Ideas include easy access to front doors to decrease walk times, ensuring exterior outlets are available for those needing to charge power chairs, installing a MoGo station, and including space for a bike room for secure storage and light maintenance.

The development plans to offer on site bike rakes and will ensure ease of access to entrance ways for pedestrians.

What is different about your development that helps to make your project more affordable to Detroiters, besides making rooms smaller? Are you installing energy efficient appliances in order to decrease utility burdens? Are you separating parking fees from rent in order to allow residents to save money by not owning a car?

The development will seek to offer deeper affordability targeting as well as community space and resident services tailored to the needs of the residents. Additionally the development will offer workspace and incubator space for local entrepreneurs.

What are you doing to encourage people with disabilities to rent your units? Are all of your units wheelchair accessible? Are all of your common areas wheelchair-accessible? Do you have cognitively accessible signage? How are you going beyond ADA legal minimums in order to increase your development’s accessibility?

All units will be visitable and a portion of the units will be accessible.

What are you doing to contribute to, rather than diminish, greenspace in the neighborhood? How many trees will be planted as a result of your development? Is there a space for tenants to have a community garden? Do you own nearby vacant land that could be converted to a pocket park, community garden, or other greenspace?

The development will offer greenspace in the form of an outdoor courtyard accessible to all and rooftop terrace accessible to residents.

What is your plan for recycling? Composting?

Development plans to offer onsite recycling.

What is your plan for on-site renewable energy or building-scale energy-efficiency measures?Question about this topic

Developer seeks to obtain Green Certification though Enterprise Green Communities, NGBS, or similar certifications.

If you have renderings, please email them to mac@thevillagesofdetroit.com.

Design package is currently being updated based on feedback received from the City

Please provide a list of required City approvals for this project, including, but not limited to, zoning, historic, tax credit approvals, etc. Please also include information about the timing of these approvals.

*

Historic, tax credit, pilot, SLU, design review, site plan approval, and HRD; notifications will be provided to community regarding hearings and updates. Timing ongoing throughout 2023.

Are you interested in doing development in other areas of the Villages?

Always interested in opportunities to empower people and build communities!