The Detroit Housing Commission, seeking to establish a new standard for public housing in the city, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the full rehabilitation of its largest development, Sheridan Place I and II, a 409-unit residential community located along East Jefferson Avenue in the Islandview neighborhood.
The DHC is seeking qualified partners to undertake nearly $160 million in needed repairs and upgrades for the complex, which is home to hundreds of senior citizens.
The redevelopment comes as the DHC has been working to strengthen its core affordable housing work by boosting itsoccupancy by 10 percent, and stabilizing its recertifications and other key metrics. In the last six months, the commission has welcomed more than 120 new households to its developments — in more than 50 percent of the cases, the new tenants’ occupancy ended their homelessness.
Sheridan Place I and II are poised for a comprehensive renovation that includes upgraded systems, elevators, kitchens, and baths. The redevelopment also will focus on energy efficiency, conservation, and enhanced access to surrounding public spaces like Gabriel Richard Park and the Detroit Riverwalk.
With proximity to vibrant neighborhoods such as West Village and Indian Village, along with Belle Isle and the Dequindre Cut, the revitalization of Sheridan Place represents a significant opportunity to strengthen affordable housing options in a high-demand corridor.
The commission is looking for a widely experienced and well-capitalized development partner to work with the Commission to preserve the affordable housing asset for the next generation. The partner will bring their capital and expertise in planning and development of the buildings, connecting them better to the amenities that encircle the property.
Sheridan Place is the first of a series of upcoming RFPs planned by DHC as part of its long-term strategy to modernize and expand affordable housing opportunities across Detroit.
The DHC will focus first on a slate of senior-disabled and family properties in the most need of redevelopment, including Sheridan Place, Brewster Homes, and as part of its HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning work with the City, Forest Park Apartments and Diggs Homes. The agency also will be initiating planning work on their Sojourner Truth Homes and Smith Homes.
To deliver on these goals, DHC is leveraging innovative financial tools and public-private partnerships that help guard against future budget uncertainty at the state and federal levels. These tools are central to ensuring the agency’s ability to provide consistent, high-quality housing solutions well into the future, even amid shifting economic conditions.
“Our work is rooted in the belief that housing is the foundation of thriving communities,” says Arthur Jemison, executive director of the Detroit Housing Commission. “At the same time, we recognize that DHC must operate at the highest possible level to meet that responsibility. We are undertaking a major effort to improve performance across all aspects of the organization — modernizing systems, strengthening partnerships, and elevating our service to residents.”
The goals are built on the foundation of operational reform.
“The team has worked hard to stabilize and grown the agency’s occupancy, turning units, opening the waitlist, and admitting new tenants, while also improving the underlying systems behind these results,” says Irene Tucker, deputy director and COO of DHC.
The Sheridan Place I and II RFP arrive as the partnership with the city is bringing new resources to the DHC to preserve and improve its portfolio. In partnership with Detroit, DHC has received a U.S. HUD Choice Neighborhood Planning grant and allocations from the CDBG-DR funding to support its redevelopment efforts.
This is in addition to partnerships with the City of Detroit’s Housing & Revitalization Department (HRD) on issues like eviction prevention and rent collection.
DHC’s strategy is designed to directly address concerns about housing availability and employment stability, reassuring both residents and property management staff that their homes, livelihoods, and futures are protected. The agency is working proactively to make sure all residents benefit from neighborhood changes and are included in the city’s future.
For more information on DHC’s initiatives and upcoming RFP opportunities, visit dhcmi.org.
 for the full rehabilitation of its largest development, Sheridan Place I and II, a 409-unit residential community located along East Jefferson Avenue in the Islandview neighborhood.){kind=link}