DETROIT – As Detroit continues its comeback, rental prices continue to surge and it’s pricing some people out of neighborhoods.
A new building in southwest Detroit aims to change that trend. The Brooke on Bagley has multiple units set aside as affordable housing.
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Rising rental prices aren’t just a Detroit problem, it’s all over the country and there’s a debate over what is affordable and to whom.
The Brooke on Bagley sits in the shadow of Michigan Central, which opened just days prior, and is across the street from Honeybee Market. The building will have 16 of its 78 units under market rate.
The developer and community leaders celebrated the grand opening Monday, June 10, with a ribbon cutting.
“Too many times in this country you have seen developments like this force out people who have been there, force out people of lower income and become an area that it is just for the wealthy,” said Mayor Mike Duggan.
The below market rate studios and one-bedroom units are priced at $1,363 dollars a month for rent, according to building officials.
Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero, who represents District 6, said she worked with Woodborn Partners to make sure the community had a say in the project.
“I have residents who are incredibly excited who are here today, Black and brown residents who see this as a beautiful opportunity, something that they can access,” Santiago-Romero said. “And then I have my residents on the other side of the spectrum who are saying currently they are having a hard time finding units that are less than $1,500, less than $1,300 and they are right.”
Woodborn President and CEO Clifford Brown understands those concerns.
“We are always sensitive to that and in addition to creating housing, we are trying to create jobs so can meet both sides of the challenge,” Brown said.
Ray Lozano grew up in the neighborhood. He now heads the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation. He’s happy to see development in the area.
“We just got to hope that we can manage change so it benefits the original residents and the folks that are moving into the area,” Lozano said.
The developer is still working to fill the retail spaces.
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