Detroit People’s Platform Statement on the DBRA District Detroit vote

February 9, 2023
Economic Justice
Good Governance

Detroit People’s Platform Statement on the DBRA District Detroit vote

In the absence of due diligence, the DBRA Board sign off on $616M in tax incentives for up to 35 years for The District Detroit Project

Thursday February 9, 2023 – At yesterday’s Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (DBRA) meeting their board of directors approved the Transformational Brownfield Plan for the District Detroit. The meeting was well attended, with over 60 people joining to put eyes on this part of the development process which is rarely observed by everyday Detroiters. The plan was moved forward despite overwhelming opposition from residents in Monday’s public hearing and Wednesday’s DBRA meeting.

Board members who are also city employees Amanda Elias, Pamela McClain, Ray Scott and Stephanie Washington voted along with John George from Motor City Blight Busters to approve the incentives. Board members Sonya Mays and Juan Gonzales were not in attendance for the vote. We want to thank board members Maggie DeSantis and Eric Dueweke for voting against the proposal. We also recognize Maggie DeSantis for asking important questions before the proposal was abruptly brought to a vote.

Seemingly with a disregard for meeting rules the board stopped discussion before the developers finished their presentation and Maggie DeSantis was able to fully interrogate the discrepancies presented between the $167 million the developers claim they are reinvesting in the impact area and the $12 million that we have been able to confirm. Our conclusion is that the DBRA Board of Directors moved this proposal forward without fully vetting the numbers presented by Olympia and Related.

Detroit People’s Platform thanks the hundreds of Detroiters who have supported this campaign so far and recognize the importance of these efforts - even in the face of the Transformative Brownfield Plan’s approval. By attending these meetings and speaking in opposition to these projects Detroiters are shedding more light on the injustice inherent in the administration’s economic development model and its’ excessive use of tax incentives. Detroiters are making the invisible visible by engaging in spaces that are typically smooth sailing for the development/investor class and wealthy white billionaires.

Detroit People’s Platform, our members and supporter now return our attention to the city's flawed CBA process and on these seemingly DESPERATE BILLIONAIRES with the audacity to take more public resources for their private projects in the nation's largest Majority Black city.

The District Detroit - Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (DBRA) Engagement 

  • DPP’s Statement on the DBRA Vote - In the absence of due diligence, the DBRA Board sign off on $616M in tax incentives for up to 35 years for The District Detroit Project - Read and Share

Next: Join us at Cass Tech
Tuesday February 14, 2023

Give yourself extra time. Parking is available along Second, Ledyard, and in the school parking lot accessible from Henry and Second. If unable to attend in person join and make public comment through ZOOM. Register with the City to receive meeting link: Web: bit.ly/DistrictDetroitCBO

Email The District Detroit Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) – The NAC’s email address is districtdetroitNAC@gmail.com please consider sharing your comments with DPP at info@detroitpeoplesplatform.org.

REAL Community benefits for

The District Detroit

A SUBSTANTIAL multi-year investment in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund

The Detroit Affordable Housing Development and Preservation Fund (DAHDPF) commonly known as the Detroit Affordable Housing Trust Fund (HTF), over the life of the District Detroit abatement period. By ordinance the HTF can accept donations, grants and contributions.

INVEST IN A RELOCATION FUND TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO WILL BE DISPLACED

The disparity in household incomes in the impact area range from $17,743 to $78,947. The majority Black neighborhoods have lower median household incomes. The economic changes created by The District Detroit WILL displace Black women, children and seniors who currently live in the impact area. The District Detroit Relocation Fund will support these impacted Detroiters.

MAKE THE LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS WHOLE!

Our libraries and schools have been deeply impacted by revenue loss from publicly funded private development projects. If developers financed their own private projects, our public institutions would benefit. Though city council can pass resolutions, laws governing tax capture exemption must be changed at the state level. The revenue loss to our schools and libraries due to tax capture from brownfield funding and tax abatements associated with the District Detroit project is appalling. Over the next 35 years the revenue loss for schools will be $226.8M. The total loss for libraries: $5.7M. The District Detroit developers must make our public libraries and schools whole.

Source: District Detroit TRANSFORMATIONAL BROWNFIELD PLAN Read: https://www.detroitpeoplesplatform.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/District-Detroit-TBP-Combined-Transformational-Brownfield-Plan-01202023.pdf

 

GET INVOLVED: linktr.ee/detroitpeoples