Who'll be voting on the nearly $1 Billion in public funding for the Ross/Ilitch District Detroit development project?

The Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority's Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on the largest Transformational Brownfield Plan in the city's history next Wednesday, February 8, 2023. A public hearing for the plan will be held on Monday, February 6, 2023 at 5pm on zoom.

At the time of publication the total request for public investment is $797.75 million, with $616 million Transformational Brownfield funds facilitating the tax capture of $226.8 million from schools and $5.7 million from libraries for up to 35 years. Source: The District Detroit Transformation Brownfield Plan

The District Detroit has previously accessed nearly half a billion dollars in public money for the construction of Little Caesars Arena and the forthcoming Detroit Center for Innovation, anchored by the University of Michigan.

Did you know? In 2018, Ilitch Holdings total combined revenue was $3.8 billion and according to Forbes magazine, Ross has a net worth of $7.6 billion in 2020.

With these proposed builds, Ross and Ilitch are seeking even more public money. When we factor in the interest on bonds, value of public land, and bonus incentives, public investment for these projects will be well over a billion dollars. To put it in perspective, that sum is about Detroit’s entire annual general fund.

Let's take a deeper look at the DBRA Board and their role in Detroit development.

 

The current Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Board of Directors:

Maggie DESANTIS

Note Former - President, Warren/Conner Development Coalition

Amanda ELIAS

Senior Advisor, Government Affairs, City of Detroit

John GEORGE (Vice Chair)

President CEO, Motor City Blight Busters

Sonya MAYS

President & CEO, Develop Detroit

Pamela MCCLAIN (Secretary)

Executive Assistant, Mayor’s Office, City of Detroit

Juan GONZALEZ

Gonzalez Law, PLLC

Ray SCOTT (Chairperson)

Deputy Director, BSEED, City of Detroit

Stephanie WASHINGTON (Treasrer)

Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office, City of Detroit

Eric DUEWEKE

Note Retired - Community Partnerships Manager University of Michigan/Taubman College

DBRA Board members are appointed by the mayor subject to the consent of City Council.

Editors Note: Board Member positions are taken directly from the DBRA website. In some cases DEGC may need to update their documents.

From the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) site:
The City of Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (DBRA) was established to promote the revitalization of environmentally distressed and blighted areas within the boundaries of the City of Detroit.

Developers of properties that qualify as contaminated, blighted, or functionally obsolete and are part of an approved Brownfield plan, may be eligible for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) reimbursement – increases in property taxes that result from new investments – for both environmental and non-environmental activities.

DBRA is governed by its Board of Directors, who receive input from the DBRA Community Advisory Committee (the “DBRA-CAC”).

The current Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Community Advisory Committee:

Abir Ali (Chairperson)
Omar Hasan
Michelle Lee
Bradley Lutz (Vice-Chair)
Dr. Regina Randall
Byron Osbern
Rico Razo (Treasurer)
Vacant

Brownfield Plans approved by the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (DBRA) Board of Directors:

Stellantis FCA - The DBRA is facilitating the tax capture of $93 million in local and school taxes generated at the site over 30 years. The project has negatively impacted neighbors with Stellantis receiving 5 Air Quality Violations.

The DBRA has facilitated two brownfield plans for out of state developer NorthPoint: $32.6 million for the AMC HQ and $7.9 million for Cadillac Stamping Plant. These projects reduce resident's quality of life and increase potential health issues.

The Mid at 3750 - DBRA's Board of Directors approved the $58.3 million brownfield plan for this luxury high rise. Supporting projects like these the DBRA board validate and prioritize projects that are not for Majority Black Detroit.

Get Engaged - Ask Hard Questions

Attend the District Detroit Transformational Brownfield Plan Public Hearing Monday February 6 2023 at 5pm. The public hearing announcement does not included an option to attend the meeting in person. 

The District Detroit Transformational Brownfield Plan Local Public Hearing