The
first phase — 30 single-family homes — of the Greater Corktown
Development Corp.’s infill development in North Corktown will be
completed by the end of February. Keegan Mahoney, GCDC’s housing
development director, expects them all to be occupied by the end of
March.
Already, eight of the new homeowners have moved in and one of them,
Greg Baise, couldn’t be happier. “It was a long time coming, but it was
definitely worth the wait,” he says. “Everyone’s really impressed when
they visit my house. I can’t wait ‘til there’s 30 more south of
Temple.”
The homes are built on standard city-width lots with garages that
are accessed from the alley, which means that they preserve the urban
grid of the neighborhood. There are five distinct models that range in
size from 1,300 to 1,724 square feet. The homes are clad in hardyplank
— pressed concrete boards that resemble wood and can be painted — and
there are several distinct color palates that the homebuyers can select
from. BVH Architecture designed the project and the General Contractor
is Allied Building Service Co.
The homes, which cost each $160,000 to construct, were available for
purchase to moderate-income individuals and families at a range of
$91,000 to $98,000 depending on the model. Additional construction
funding came from National City Bank, Charter One Bank, Detroit LISC,
City of Detroit Community Development Block Grants and the Empowerment
Zone.
The second phase is expected to get under way later this year.
Sources: Keegan Mahoney, housing development director, Greater
Corktown Development Corp., and Greg Baise, North Corktown resident
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