Olympia Development of Michigan and Cinnaire Solutions have opened the first phase of Henry Street Apartments just west of Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The development, along Henry Street between Cass and Second avenues, includes seven restored historic buildings that are designed for a mixed-income, mixed-use community in Detroit’s Cass Park neighborhood.
The first phase includes two residential buildings, Bretton Hall (439 Henry) and The Claridge (459 Henry), as well as Ralston Commons at 447 Henry, a former bowling alley transformed into a residential amenity and community center.
Complemented by the Bretton Hall and The Claridge apartments, when complete next summer Henry Street Apartments will include 170 renovated apartments across six historic residential buildings.
Nearly half of the units — 49 percent — will be offered at affordable rates for households earning between 30 percent and 60 percent of Area Median Income, bringing affordable and market-rate homes together within a single community.
The remaining four residential buildings are under renovation and scheduled to be completed in the spring and summer of 2027. Once finished, the six residential buildings (constructed between 1900 and 1922) and Ralston Commons will form an integrated community built around historic preservation, shared spaces, and connections to the surrounding neighborhood.
“For nearly 40 years, my family has been committed to investing in Detroit for the long term, and Henry Street Apartments represents the latest chapter in that commitment,” says Chris Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Cos. in Detroit.
“By restoring these historic buildings and creating new mixed-income housing, we are preserving an important part of this neighborhood while creating new opportunities for Detroiters. We are grateful to Cinnaire Solutions, the City of Detroit, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and the many public, community, and development partners who helped make this possible.”
To date, Ilitch Cos. reports it has invested more than $2.3 billion across 22 projects in the city, with that work continuing through projects including Henry Street Apartments, Founders House, M-Block Park, and the University of Michigan Center for Innovation.
Cinnaire is a nonprofit financial partner in Lansing that supports community and economic revitalization initiatives through investments, loans, and development services.
In addition to Ralston Commons, the Henry Street project will overall restore six residential buildings constructed between 1900 and 1922. The historic character of the buildings were preserved. Interiors include a modern design.
“Detroit’s growth should mean more quality housing choices for people at different income levels,” says Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield. “Henry Street is bringing historic buildings back to life and creating homes where residents can be part of this neighborhood’s future.”
Olympia Development and its local partners highlight that Henry Street residents and neighbors will have range of planned activities and programming at Ralston Commons, including:
- Cass Technical High School: The neighboring school will have a rotating exhibition of student artwork at Ralston Commons, giving young Detroit artists a place to share their work with residents and visitors.
- Fifth Third Bank: The bank will offer financial literacy classes to help residents and the broader community build practical money-management skills.
- SER Metro-Detroit: The Detroit-based education and employment organization will provide youth workforce training, connecting community members with career-development opportunities.
- Detroit Area Agency on Aging: The agency will offer health and wellness classes for residents and community members of all ages.
The center at Ralston Commons includes lounge and gathering areas, a fitness room, a dog wash, package facilities, meeting space, a kitchenette, a fireplace, mail facilities, and onsite property management office.
Residents also have access to green space and parking, with residents in the affordable apartments able to park in secure lots at no cost.
“Cinnaire Solutions is proud to have worked alongside Olympia Development to assemble the resources and partnerships needed to advance the affordable-housing component of Henry Street Apartments,” says Lucius Vassar, chief legal officer at Cinnaire. “This development demonstrates the value of mission-aligned investment and collaboration in expanding access to housing where affordability, quality, and resident experience are treated as complementary goals.”
In addition to being kiddie-corner to Cass Tech, the Henry Street Apartments is located near the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business and the forthcoming University of Michigan Center for Innovation, as well as employment centers, neighborhood services, and Detroit’s sports and entertainment destinations.
“This milestone is the result of persistence, creative problem-solving and close coordination across an exceptional team of partners,” says Keith Bradford, president of Olympia Development of Michigan and The District Detroit. “Restoring these historic buildings while navigating the complexities of design, construction, and financing mixed-income housing required a sustained commitment to getting the details right.”
Neumann/Smith Architecture in Southfield is the designer and Architect-of-Record for the Henry Street restoration. O’Brien Construction in Bloomfield Township, which also led the work on the historic Eddystone residences, is the construction manager.
The project was made possible through loans from Fifth Third Bank and Bank of America; Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority; American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the City of Detroit; HOME funds from the City of Detroit and State of Michigan; Michigan Community Revitalization Program funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund, administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.; and ARPA funding from the State of Michigan’s Labor and Economic Opportunity office.
Olympia Development of Michigan, an Ilitch company, is a real estate development firm. Its recent housing projects include restoration of the Eddystone residences, the Residences @150 Bagley in partnership with Bagley Development Group, and 64 Edmund Place led by Edmund Place Partners, along with commercial development including Little Caesars Arena, 2525 Woodward Avenue, 52 Henry Street, 2715 Woodward Avenue, Little Caesars Global Headquarters, and Columbia Street.
Ilitch Cos., founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch, owns the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, Little Caesars Pizza, Fox Theatre, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, and more.
For leasing information or to schedule a tour of Henry Street Apartments, visit Henry Street Apartments.
