With the construction of Orchard Village Apartments, neighbors in Northwest Detroit’s Old Redford neighborhood are celebrating the conversion of a few formerly abandoned properties into a thriving community.
With the help of this new housing program, 48 affordable homes have been built on nine vacant lots, opening up new options for both businesses and families.
Beyond merely providing affordable housing, the $16 million investment in Orchard Village Apartments signifies a dedication to creating a vibrant and sustainable neighborhood.
Vera Cotton, one of the first tenants at Orchard Village, expressed her excitement about the development, said, “I used to pass by here and look at the progress they were making, and I liked it. We are in the middle of everything. You know, walkable.”
The apartments are intended to draw families to the Old Redford neighborhood, with rent prices starting at $525 per month.
“When you look at something like Orchard Village, it creates a different sense of community,” said Kevin Nowak, President and CEO of CHN Housing Partners. “It creates a sense of belonging.”
Community leaders, employees of Detroit Blight Busters, CHN Housing Partners, and other financial partners came together to commemorate the opening of this new location.
Affordable housing is only one aspect of this campaign, according to John George, Executive Director of Detroit Blight Busters.
“It’s a community where everybody feels welcome. We want to create spaces and places that people can come and experience Detroit,” George said.
Alongside the Orchard Village development, the Old Redford neighborhood has seen improvements to its retail corridor, including the relocation of new companies and the start of preparations for the multimillion-dollar Sunflower Arts Center.
George said, “When you have a vision for a better Detroit, you have to keep striving and driving toward that vision. And that’s what you’re seeing come to light.”
This positive energy, according to neighbors like Vera Cotton, is essential to creating a strong community.
“We need to build up our old neighborhoods,” Cotton said, highlighting the importance of revitalizing the area for future generations.
Although this is CHN Housing Partners’ first construction in Detroit to be officially opened, the team has hinted that it won’t be the last.
They are currently working on more affordable housing projects in Detroit, such as one in the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood.
