Under the DDA program, loans would be available to developments where at least 20% of the residential units will be reserved for households making between 50% and 70% of the area median income. That translates to a household income between $31,350 and $43,890 for an individual or $44,750 and $62,650 for a family of four. The DDA’s new incentive would apply only to developments located in the DDA’s downtown development area that offered rents for residents earning incomes below that level.
In order to be eligible for a loan, the development must:
- Be a multi-unit residential development within the DDA footprint that will include at least 10 affordable housing units
- Set aside at least 20% of its units for residents earning between 50% and 70% of AMI
The maximum loan amount would be $200,000 per affordable unit, determined on a sliding scale, with larger loans offered to developments that makes units available to residents of lower income levels as follows:
Rent Affordability Target Loan Amount
80% AMI No loan available
70% AMI 20% of Hard Construction Costs
60% AMI 30% of Hard Construction Costs
50% AMI 40% of Hard Construction Cost
“This new tool will allow us to create more affordable housing units at lower rents than we could achieve without it,” said Kenyetta Bridges, Executive Vice President of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, which staffs the DDA board. “We also are fortunate to have developers who are prepared to use this new loan program immediately to help them reduce rents on these units.”
First Projects
The DDA board also will vote to approve the first-ever loans under the program, in the aggregate amount of $23,765,000, using the new tool for three mixed-income residential projects to be developed by a joint venture between the Related Companies and Olympia Development of Michigan. Those projects will deliver a combined 139 units of deeply affordable housing at 50% AMI. Providing units at 50% AMI means that an individual living in one of the units would pay about $850 in monthly rent at a time when market rate is closer to $2,400.
Project | Total Units | 50% AMI Affordable Units |
2250 Woodward | 287 | 58 |
2505 Cass | 131 | 27 |
408 Temple | 261 | 54 |
“Although these residents will be paying much lower rents, thanks to this program, they will enjoy the same amenities as those paying market rate, which is the beauty of mixed income housing,” said Bridges.
Loans may be forgivable based on residency
Another aspect of the DDA’s new loan parameters is a pathway to having portions of the loan forgiven based upon occupancy in the affordable units by existing Detroit residents.
“A unique element of this loan program is that developers would give preference to existing residents of Detroit. A portion of the loan may be forgiven where the developer demonstrates that the affordable units are being rented out to someone who has been a resident of Detroit for at least three years,” said Bridges. “That’s a new approach in Detroit we are very proud of.”
Julie Schneider, Director of the city’s Department of Housing & Revitalization applauded the DDA’s announcement.
“The need for quality affordable housing in Detroit is only going to grow as the market rises and rents along with it,” Schneider said. “This new tool means that we can create more deeply affordable housing units than we could without it because we won’t have to use some of our more traditional tools, such as low-income housing tax credits and various HUD funds, for downtown projects. Instead, we can use those resources to create other affordable housing in neighborhoods across the city.”
The DDA is governed by its Board of Directors who are appointed by the Mayor subject to the consent of Detroit City Council.