Brush Park in Detroit to be transformed with restoration, new housing

DETROIT – A new $70 million plan for Detroit's Brush Park includes the restoration of four historic mansions and the construction of hundreds of new residential housing units.

The city released details of the plan with Brush Park Development Partners LLC for the 8.4-acre site Wednesday, saying the project is expected to be finished in 2017.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said the project involves "building a neighborhood that's going to be available to everybody."

Also included are new retail and green space within walking distance of the M-1 Rail streetcar line just east of Woodward Avenue between downtown and Midtown.

Part of the development agreement includes the requirement that 51 percent of the workers hired for the construction will be from Detroit and 31 percent of construction cost will go to Detroit-based contractors.

The plan has to be approved by the City Council.

Some housing will be designated as affordable

At least 20 percent of the residential development will be affordable housing units. This new mixed-income development includes residential concepts such as apartments, townhomes and flats among the multifamily housing options. Both for-sale and for-rent options will be available.

Historic restoration to include Gillis home

Restoration of the four houses is expected to begin this summer. Included in the restoration is the Ransom Gillis home at 205 Alfred Street, which was built between 1876 and 1878 for the wholesale dry goods merchant.

Also being restored are:

•    261 Alfred Street, Campbell House
•    287 Alfred Street, Mansard Twin I
•    295 Alfred Street, Chandler House (Mansard Twin II)

History of Brush Park

The park was created in the 1860s. At its height, it contained more than 400 buildings, including 70 Victorian mansions. These were homes to Detroit's elite including David Whitney, JL Hudson, and Albert Kahn, among others. It began to decline over the past several decades, but new development began in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The announcement Wednesday is the second major development for the Brush Park area. Last month, Duggan announced a development agreement for the historic Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center, which will include new restaurants, community programs.