On Second Ave. just north of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., a remarkable transformation is occurring: two dilapidated homes are being transformed into five market-rate apartments through the efforts of owner Jeff Malmsten.
The vacant homes are being fully restored, inside and out. The first, located at 3525 Second, will have three units -- a studio; a two-bedroom, 2-bath unit; and a three-bedroom, two-bath, two-story apartment. Malmsten hopes to attain occupancy in July.
Exterior work has begun on the second home, located at 3531 Second, which was severely fire-damaged. The two-unit should be ready in about a year.
Malmsten caught the Midtown bug while helping his son rehab a home near the Detroit Science Center. "It doesn't matter about politics and the economy, this thing has been going like a steamroller since the Super Bowl," he says. "I'm excited to see what's going on, this transformation (has been) overdue."
Malmsten was awarded a low-interest loan from the Detroit Investment Fund for the project.
Source: Jeff Malmsten
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.