A long-vacant piece of land in Northwest Detroit is about to be transformed into a new hub of affordable housing and senior living. The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) announced Wednesday that Detroit Blight Busters and Wallick Communities have been selected to redevelop nearly 19 acres of the former Rogell Golf Course at 22333 W. Seven Mile Road.
The $88 million project will bring 304 affordable rental units to a community that has long called for more housing options for families and elders. Of those units, 198 will be mixed-income townhomes and 106 will be senior apartments. The development also includes 39 townhome buildings, two three-story senior apartment buildings, a clubhouse, and more than 500 parking spaces.
For residents who participated in earlier community meetings, this announcement is a victory. Many had expressed the need for affordable housing that allows longtime Detroiters — especially seniors — to stay rooted in their neighborhoods.
“This proposed development illustrates the perfect intersection between robust community engagement and what is arguably the most desirable development site in our neighborhoods,” said David Laurence Howell, DEGC vice president of Real Estate Services. “By providing deeply affordable housing options for families and our senior citizens, it represents the community-centered growth Northwest Detroit needs.”
The City is also reserving a 3.3-acre portion of the site to attract retail and commercial partners that will meet everyday neighborhood needs while creating local jobs.
For John George, executive director of Detroit Blight Busters, the project is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s a continuation of decades of work the nonprofit has poured into revitalizing Detroit neighborhoods.
“Detroit is on the front porch of the greatest urban comeback story in our nation’s history,” George said. “This project is another important piece in that story.”
Detroit Blight Busters has long been a trusted presence in communities hit hardest by disinvestment, and this project marks a significant opportunity to scale its impact.
Partnering with Blight Busters is Wallick Communities, an Ohio-based developer with national experience in affordable housing. Wallick is no stranger to Detroit, having developed the Dr. Violet T. Lewis Village, an affordable senior housing community on the historic site of Lewis College of Business — Michigan’s only HBCU. The company is also leading development of the Alice Birney Village in Nardin Park.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Detroit Blight Busters on the future of Rogell Park,” said Amy Albery, CEO of Wallick Communities. “This project reflects our mission of Opening Doors to Homes, Opportunities and Hope, and will create lasting benefits for Detroit residents.”
Detroit’s housing market has been marked by rising rents and shrinking affordable options, making projects like Rogell Park more critical than ever. City officials and community leaders have stressed that meeting the demand for deeply affordable housing — especially for working families and seniors — is essential to keeping neighborhoods stable and inclusive. This development aims to answer that call by ensuring longtime Detroiters are not priced out of the communities they helped build.
The redevelopment will sit alongside a $3.4 million regional nature park being created from the remainder of the 120-acre former golf course. City officials say the pairing of affordable housing and open green space creates a model for sustainable neighborhood growth.
The project will roll out in phases beginning in fall 2025, with construction expected to start in 2027 and wrap up by summer 2029. Located near the Southfield Freeway and Telegraph Road, the site will benefit from traffic and accessibility along Seven Mile, where 30,000 to 50,000 vehicles pass daily.
The Rogell redevelopment builds on ongoing revitalization efforts across Northwest Detroit — from new housing and recreational facilities to streetscape improvements along Grand River Avenue.
The selection of Detroit Blight Busters and Wallick follows a competitive process that began in April 2025, when DEGC announced the request for proposals. Five development teams submitted plans, and after interviews and review, the partnership was chosen for its strong record of community development, local hiring commitments, and financial capacity.
While the plan must still clear City Council and regulatory approvals, community members and leaders alike see the project as a milestone. It represents not only a reinvestment in land that has sat unused for years, but also a deeper commitment to affordable housing and stability for Detroit families and elders.
