housing units in works in

Eastern Market Area has long sought more residential space

KIRK PINHO

Eastern Market executives say more than 300 units of housing are in the works in the food-centric district that has long sought more residential space to densify the area on a more regular basis.

ere are ve known housing projects in varying stages of the development process, according to a document submitted last month to the Detroit City Council. Some have been in the works for years while others are just within the last few months coming into clearer focus.

Earlier this year, Eastern Market Partnership hired Dietrich Knoer, formerly of e Platform LLC, to run Eastern Market Development Corp., the partnership’s development arm.

“From Midtown to downtown to Corktown, there is a market push for those three general areas and Eastern Market has been sort of left behind in that,” said Craig Willian, vice president of real estate for Develop Detroit Inc., one of the developers working on Eastern Market area residential buildings.

Among the projects in the works, according to the Detroit City Council document:

 Cincinnati-based Pivotal is working on a two-phase, 100-unit project consisting of both workforce and senior housing, with a ordability levels at 30% to 70% of the federally designated Area Median Income, a federally designated gure that is controversial because it includes suburban incomes and therefore skews upward what is considered a ordable to residents of a city that is one of the poorest in the nation. Crain’s has previously reported that at least some of the housing would go on St. Aubin Street.