Photo Caption: Detroit Food Commons Co-op Layout Renderings
In a landmark collaboration, Detroit Architecture Firm, SDG Associates, the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network, and Develop Detroit, together with the active participation and support of the local community, celebrated the eagerly awaited official grand opening of the Detroit Food Commons Co-op, a transformative project at the intersection of Woodward and Euclid.
Based in Detroit for over five decades, SDG Associates, founded by the late Howard Sims, a groundbreaking architect (formerly known as Sims Varner and Associates and Howard Sims and Associates), takes pride in being the creative force behind the Detroit Food Commons. Since 2018, they have collaborated with the DBCFSN and developer Develop Detroit to bring this transformative project to life. Located in one of Detroit’s ‘Traditional Main Street Overlay Districts,’ the innovative and multifaceted design enhances the neighborhood’s aesthetic and fosters economic development, community well-being, and growth.
The Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network (DBCFSN) has worked for over a decade to realize its vision, resulting in a 31,000-square-foot facility with offices, banquet halls, event spaces, and shared-use kitchens for local entrepreneurs. The ground floor also houses the Detroit People’s Food Co-op, a cooperative grocery store owned by its members, providing healthy food choices to the North End community and prioritizing locally sourced produce. This initiative aims to combat food insecurity in the city and create a more sustainable food system.
Proudly marking its 60th year in the industry, SDG Associates has been instrumental in shaping Detroit’s iconic skyline. They have significantly contributed to the design and construction of prominent landmarks such as the Robert Millender Center, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Huntington Place, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and several airports across the United States. It’s important to note that the original building concept for the Detroit Food Commons was conceived by Baltimore Design, and the project’s general contractor is the esteemed L.S. Brinker Company.
“We are hoping that the Detroit Food Commons becomes a model of Black-led equitable, community benefitting development,” says Malik Yakini, Executive Director, Detroit Food Commons. “Specifically, the anchor tenant, Detroit People’s Food Co-op, seeks to create a more circular, non-extractive food economy in majority Black Detroit.”