$616 Million in Development Incentives Approved for District Detroit

The “Transformational Brownfield” incentives approved by the Detroit City Council for the $1.5 billion District Detroit still require approval by the state.

1 minute read

March 31, 2023, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Detroit Sports Arena

Linda Parton / Shutterstock

The Detroit City Council approved a $616 million “Transformational Brownfield” development incentive for the $1.5-billion District Detroit project, proposed by the Ilitch organization's Olympia Development of Michigan and New York-based Related Cos.

According to an article by Dana Afna and JC Reindl, most of the development incentive included in the project’s community benefits agreement would generate revenue by capturing future state-level taxes, “including state income taxes paid by workers and residents in the planned buildings.”

“The balance would come from future property taxes that would otherwise go to the Downtown Development Authority, or DDA,” according to the article.

“Separately, the developers also will get from the DDA a $23.7 million forgivable loan and $25 million in cash reimbursement for infrastructure improvements.”

The Transformational Brownfield incentive will still require approval by the Michigan Strategic Fund.

The District Detroit development proposal, which has been on the books for a decade, “calls for 10 new and rehabilitated buildings for 1.2 million square feet of office space, 695 apartments, retail spaces and two new hotels: a 14-story, 290-room hotel adjacent to Little Caesars Arena and an adaptive reuse of the 10-story Fox Theatre office building, 2211 Woodward, as the 177-room Fox Hotel,” according to the article.

The article, linked below, provides more details on the politics of the community benefits agreement approved by the city this week.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Detroit Free Press

Black and white Rideshare Pick-Up Zone sign

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing

From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

June 1, 2023 - Human Transit

Urban sidewalk shaded by large mature trees

Cool Walkability Planning

Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

June 1, 2023 - Todd Litman

Traffic on the 405 interstate freeway through the Sepulveda Pass at Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California

Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.

The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.

May 30, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

View from lakeside with green grass and pink blooming flowers

Who Benefits Most from Land Conservation Efforts?

A new study estimates that recent land conservation generated $9.8 billion in wealth nationally through the housing market and that wealthier and White households benefited disproportionately.

28 minutes ago - PNAS

Close-up of black parking meter with blurred street in background

Richmond Repeals Parking Minimums, Encourages Off-Street Parking and Transit

The Virginia city is replete with underused off-street parking lots, which city councilors hope to make available for parking at more times while encouraging transit use.

1 hour ago - Next City

Multi-Family Housing

Lack of Multi-Family Zones Contributes to Nashville’s High Housing Costs, Study Says

Nashville and surrounding communities allow for a relatively small amount of multi-family housing, according to a new zoning atlas of Middle Tennessee. A regionally focused nonprofit is using the atlas to push for zoning reforms.

2 hours ago - Axios Nashville

Project Manager III

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

UDO Transportation Planner

City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.