Bedrock in Detroit has opened City Modern, which offers 20 newly constructed buildings, along with the rehabilitation of three historic mansions into five homes, providing 450 new residences to Detroit’s Brush Park.
The mixed-income, amenity-dense neighborhood features apartments, townhomes, carriage homes, condominiums, and 31,000 square feet of retail space. The eight-acre development spans John R. Street, Edmund Place, and Beaubien Street (north of Ford Field).
“City Modern is the first major ground-up neighborhood built in Detroit since the 1980s,” says Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Bedrock. “We didn’t just build housing; we rebuilt a community. What was once vacant land is now a mixed-income district with homes, businesses, and public spaces.”
Bedrock enlisted a team of six architectural firms to help shape the cohesive, design-forward City Modern master plan. A collaboration between Bedrock, Hamilton Anderson Associates, Merge Architects, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects, Studio Dwell Architects, McIntosh Poris Architects, and Christian Hurttienne.
The project includes:
- The Residences at City Modern offer 286 rental units across eight buildings. The Residences are comprised of 440 Alfred St., 265 Alfred St., 320 Edmund Place, 290 Edmund Place, 200 Edmund Place, 2853 Brush St., 2665 Brush St., and 2660 John R St., all of which feature open floor plans and amenities including rooftop terraces, a fitness center, and gathering spaces.
- The Flats at City Modern, located at 124 Alfred St., is an affordable housing community of 54 units for residents 55 years and older. Opened in 2019, The Flats feature a rooftop terrace, a fitness space, and a community lounge.
- The Carriage Homes at City Modern, developed and built by Hunter Pasteur, provide 53 newly constructed units and create a network of common spaces, and pedestrian-friendly alleyways. Designed to blend modern living with Brush Park’s 19th-century context, Merge Architects reimagined the traditional carriage house into a duplex-style home with shared courtyards.
- Hunter Pasteur’s Townhomes at City Modern are made up of 52 for-sale units, designed by Studio Dwell Architects in collaboration with Hamilton Anderson Associates. The multi-level residences feature two- to four-bedroom floor plans with a private second-floor terrace, rooftop deck, a two-car garage, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The design, inspired by the Victorian fabric of Brush Park, integrates a brick palette and generous landscaping.
- Bedrock preserved three historic Victorian-era mansions, transforming them into five homes enhanced with luxury finishes; the homes were converted into condominiums.
City Modern also offers 31,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space with modern conveniences for residents and visitors. Tenants include:
- Brushery — A locally owned, advanced dental practice offering a range of services.
- Brush Park Bodega — A corner cafe, bar, and market.
- Leña — A neighborhood eatery with cuisine from Spain’s Basque and Catalan regions, emphasizing wood-fired cooking and fresh, local ingredients.
“Brush Park stood out to us for its walkability and density, which we see as important to Detroit’s continued revitalization,” says Tarun Kajeepeta, co-owner of Leña. “We wanted a location where Leña could be a neighborhood restaurant for residents, while also welcoming visitors in town for games or shows and this space offered that perfect balance.”
When Bedrock began the City Modern project in 2015, more than 80 percent of Brush Park’s physical lots were empty. Its vision for the City Modern community was rooted in both preservation and progress — to reintroduce density and walkability while honoring the neighborhood’s historic significance.
Now, recognized as a catalyst for neighborhood growth, City Modern includes nearby developments such as Edmund Place, Brush House, Brush Park Apartments, and Brush Watson, in addition to a variety of retail, dining, and service offerings.
For additional information about City Modern, or to inquire about residential or retail opportunities, visit CityModernDetroit.com.
