Ribbon Cutting at “Dreamtroit” Grand Opening Celebration (Image Courtesy of the City of Detroit)
Detroit’s newest creative beacon, Dreamtroit, a $30 million transformation of a historic auto plant, has officially opened, bringing fresh energy into the Northwest Goldberg neighborhood. Blending affordable housing, creative workspaces, and cultural spaces, this vibrant mixed-use community promises to be a game changer for Detroit’s arts scene. Perfectly positioned between Motown Museum and the College for Creative Studies and a stone’s throw from the Fisher Building and Woodbridge, Dreamtroit is set to anchor the city’s cultural landscape while piloting Detroit’s exciting 24-hour Economy Initiative.
Matthew Naimi and Oren Goldenberg, devolpers of Dreamtroit is a project that recently transformed the old Lincoln Motor Factory and recycling center in Detroit. This project aims to keep Detroit’s artistic heritage alive, all while providing affordable housing options. The development will include 76 apartments, five office spaces, and 38,000 square feet of stores and entertainment areas, all within a historic building that has been part of Detroit’s industrial history since 1908.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan expressed this is the type of creative redevelopment happening all around the city.
“Taking a vacant industrial property and converting it into a vibrant and affordable residential and retail destination takes real vision, persistence, and a lot of collaboration. Congratulations to Matt Naimi and Oren Goldenberg for this wonderful addition to Northwest Goldberg.”
The complex will also feature extensive retail options, including anchor tenants such as Michigan and Trumbull Pizza, Marble Bar, Metro Grocery, and Recycle Here, and provide space for nonprofits, including Teach Empower Achieve, Green Living Science, and Make Art Work.
The residential units at Dreamtroit feature 13-foot ceilings, expansive industrial windows, and flexible layouts. Options include one and two bedroom units, studios, and communal kitchen studios. Amenities include an indoor event space, a workshop, a coffee shop, and on-site parking.
Oren Goldenberg, Dreamtroit Developer, thinks Dreamtroit’s true accomplishment is that it has been completely redeveloped into an economic model and physical structure while preserving the culture and affordability of the local community.
“Through relentless creativity, perseverance and a focus on our goal of keeping Recycle Here! and the Lincoln Street Art Park open and free, we have been able to cultivate diverse and strong relationships with Detroit municipal, lending and artistic communities to make Dreamtroit a reality,” Goldenberg said.
“It’s rare that a friendship and partnership can endure the seemingly insurmountable obstacles we’ve encountered in our path the last seven years – global pandemic, brain surgeries, bankruptcies, doubt, but Matt and I know that we have pursued this project for the same reasons, to ensure there is a Detroit that we want to live in and share with the world.”
(R-L) Mayor Mike Duggan, Developer Matt Naimi, Matt’s 10-year-old son Holden, & Developer Oren Goldenberg (Image courtesy of the City of Detroit)
Matt Naimi, developer of Dreamtroit and founder of Recycle Here, believes the people and culture push the city into the future.
“For the past 12 years, we have been bringing people together through public programming, public space, environmentalism and art,” Naimi said.
“We are ensuring that the working class, artists and innovators will continue to have a home and a platform to build the next generation of Detroit’s cultural and technological revolution, while offering affordable housing to those who make Detroit such a unique and creative place.”
Kevin Johnson, the President and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, expressed his support for Dreamtroit and said the company exemplifies the type of developer that Detroit needs.
“The DEGC is proud to support Dreamtroit with a range of tools designed to make this vision a reality. From Brownfield TIF to direct loans and tax abatements, we’ve leveraged multiple resources to help bring this $30 million investment to life. It perfectly exemplifies how strategic support can catalyze transformative projects in our neighborhoods,” Johnson said.
The revitalization of Dreamtroit is bringing new life to the Northwest Goldberg neighborhood in Detroit and contributing to the city’s ongoing transformation. The project is creating inclusive spaces that combine the arts with affordable housing, and people are starting to move in. It’s a positive sign of Detroit’s commitment to creating welcoming and vibrant communities.
Julie Schneider, Director of the Housing & Revitalization Department at the City of Detroit, emphasized that Dreamtroit stands as a testament to Detroit’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity.
“By transforming a historic auto plant into a vibrant mixed-use community space, we’re not just preserving our city’s heritage—we’re also addressing the need for affordable housing,” Schneider said.
The project has secured funding from a diverse group of supporters, including the Detroit Housing for the Future Fund, Invest Detroit, IFF, Capital Impact Partners, the Michigan Strategic Fund, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), Michigan Community Capital, and the State of Michigan through Historic & New Market Tax Credits. The grand opening of Dreamtroit not only celebrates the completion of the redevelopment and reinforces the city’s commitment to supporting its creative and cultural communities.
Mike Vieregge, Senior Vice President of lending at Invest Detroit, explained that Dreamtroit began as a straightforward request for pre-development financing but quickly evolved into one of the most complex capital stacks Invest Detroit has ever been a part of.
“The financing involved a mix of historic tax credits, new market tax credits, and both senior and subordinate debt, all working together to bring this intricate project to life,” Vieregge said.
“Today, what was once the original Lincoln car factory has been transformed into a vibrant mixed-use artist community, featuring affordable housing, retail, live-work units, the city’s recycling center, and an art park.”
For more information about Dreamtroit, visit dlandgroup.com/dreamtroit.
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