New Housing for Detroit: Village Estates homes have tax break

New housing for Detroit
Village Estates homes have tax break

June 6, 2007

BY DARRELL HUGHES

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick joined community leaders Tuesday to celebrate plans to build more than 120 town houses, ranch-style condominiums and single-family homes in northwest Detroit.

Supporters say the development -- called Village Estates -- could help revitalize the area south of 7 Mile and east of the Southfield Freeway. The project is a collaborative effort between the Rev. Wendell Anthony, pastor of Fellowship Chapel, and Herb Strather, president and chief executive of Strather & Associates, the developer.

"Don't move, just improve right where you are," Anthony said during the groundbreaking ceremony.

Anthony added that the residential units will cater to a broad range of people including recent college graduates, senior citizens, business professionals and retirees.

Amandla, a community development company Anthony started, is working with Strather to develop the $40-million housing project, which is being financed with private money. Prices for the properties range from $170,000 to $267,000. Special features include a 42-inch flat-screen television, a fireplace and an alarm system.

The development is bounded by McNichols to the south, Outer Drive to the north, Oakfield to the west and Biltmore to the east. Village Estates will be in the same area as Fellowship Chapel.


It could take 2 1/2 years to complete the housing development, said project manager Darlene Strickland of Strather & Associates.

"The City of Detroit stands ready to assist you and support you in every way possible," Kilpatrick told the leaders.

Kilpatrick added that the city will help in "making sure people can afford to live in the new village."

Amandla's residential units have the same tax-exempt status as churches, and residents will not have to pay taxes for 12 years, Anthony said.

Fellowship Chapel was the first phase of a community project spearheaded by Anthony. He started the project about five years ago to have a community constructed around his church.

"So this was a vision that started years ago," Anthony said. "The second leg is now the Village Estates, this housing development."

Like other developers, Strather is offering an incentive for purchasing a unit. The first 20 buyers will get a 2-year, prepaid lease on a Ford Fusion.

"We want to make it more affordable, so we're going to put the car in the garage with the key, and you won't have to make auto payments," Strather said.

(Thanks to the Detroit Free Press for this article)