State of Michigan support will bring new affordable and supportive housing to Detroit

Detroit will move forward with 183 new affordable and supportive housing units following four 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit awards from the State of Michigan, according to the city. All of the projects will serve deeply affordable households earning 30% or less of the area median income, the city says.

The awards allow multiple long-planned developments to advance at a time when demand for deeply affordable housing continues to outpace supply in Detroit, city officials say. The projects are part of a broader strategy to stabilize residents, expand housing access and leverage public financing to support long-term affordability.

Among the developments moving ahead is the Woodward and Adams project, known as Noah at Central, which will create 39 units of permanent supportive housing inside Central United Methodist Church, according to the city. The project received tax credit awards from the state and is designed to provide long-term housing stability for residents with significant needs.

The Bagley Central development, also known as Clement Kern Gardens, will add 54 new mixed-income housing units in Corktown, according to city officials. The project is part of a broader effort to increase housing options in neighborhoods experiencing renewed investment, the city says. The first phases of Bagley Central are expected to open in 2027.  

Additional housing is planned through the Gardenview Townhomes and Apartments project on the former Herman Gardens site. The development will include new apartments and townhomes located along the Southfield Freeway, according to the city.

The new projects build on a larger investment trend in Detroit’s affordable housing sector. Over the past six years, the city has invested approximately $1.7 billion in affordable housing, with more than $1 billion in additional investment planned through Detroit’s payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, program, according to the city.

“Taken together, these investments represent a meaningful step forward for affordable housing in Detroit,” says Tony Lentych, Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s Chief Housing Investment Officer. “These developments will create new housing options for families, seniors, and residents with the greatest needs, while strengthening neighborhoods and supporting long-term stability. MSHDA is proud to partner with the city and developers to help ensure more Detroiters have access to safe, affordable places to call home.”

Source: City of Detroit, AI-assisted reporting