250 homes per year: Detroit's new math for 1,000-unit goal
Mayor Mary Sheffield outlined a four-year plan to add 250 housing units annually through zoning reforms and lot bundling.
By Noor Graham ·
Detroit officials announced a new housing initiative on Tuesday, October 28, aimed at expanding the city's residential inventory. The plan, dubbed Project 1000, sets a target for adding one thousand homes by the year 2031.
Mayor Mary Sheffield made the announcement from a vacant parcel in the Northwest Goldberg Neighborhood. She stated that the city has recorded population growth for three consecutive years. Sheffield argued that this trend requires a dual approach of rehabilitating existing structures and constructing new units. "This means we are now creating places where families can grow, build wealth and create lasting memories right here in the city of Detroit," she said.
The initiative mandates the construction of 250 homes per year over the next four years. To achieve this pace, the city will reform its zoning codes and establish specific layouts for new builds. These changes are designed to reduce the time and cost associated with development. The strategy includes pre-approved home designs to accelerate the permitting process.
City officials also plan to bundle vacant lots to create larger buildable areas. This method allows for the construction of single-family homes, duplexes, and other housing types on parcels that have reduced lot-size requirements. Marcelle Todd, the director of the Detroit city planning commission, explained that these adjustments lower standard thresholds. "By lowering these standards, we will be able to allow developers to go through a shortened approval process," Todd said.
Sheffield emphasized that the city government will support developers to streamline the creation of housing options. "Under Project 1000, we put all of city government behind the developer to make it easier to develop housing options for our residents here in the city of Detroit," she stated. Housing officials, city council members, developers, and local residents were present during the announcement to represent the groups involved in the initiative.
Source: FOX 2 Detroit
