Over $1.8 million was awarded to 13 community development corporations in Wayne County recently for pre-development spending on selected projects. The grants averaged around $150,000 per project.
"Pre-development costs are more difficult to get, and are essential in creating affordable homes for people," says Katie Miller of Northwest Detroit Neighborhood Development Corp.
The pre-development grants provide funds for title applications, marketing, land surveys and other tasks necessary to begin a housing development project. NDND is using the grant to begin the process on their Hope Park Estates project in the Brightmoor neighborhood in Northwest Detroit. 11 homes are scheduled to be built for this project, with more being planned for the future.
Other Wayne County and Detroit CDCs that were awarded grants include the Greater Corktown Development Corp., Habitat For Humanity, Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp., the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance and more.
"Without the pre-development funding it would be hard to sell the homes as affordable housing," says Miller.
Sources: John O'Brien, Michael Chateau, Katie Miller, Northwest Detroit Neighborhood Development Corp.
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