Environmental remediation funding will help advance a $34 million affordable housing development in Detroit, where a former parking lot is planned for conversion into a four-story residential community.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced an $820,000 Brownfield Redevelopment Grant for The Bridge Apartments at 2302 Rosa Parks Boulevard in the Corktown neighborhood on Oct. 8, 2026.
The 1.36-acre property previously contained residential buildings before being cleared in the late 1950s. It was later used for parking associated with the former Tiger Stadium. Fill material brought to the site after demolition was contaminated with metals, petroleum and other chemical compounds.
The grant will fund additional environmental assessments, excavation and disposal of approximately 3,500 tons of contaminated soil, and installation of a barrier to prevent contact with contamination that remains on the property.
The planned four-story apartment community will include 71 units of varying types. All apartments are intended for households earning up to 80% of the area median income.
The city of Detroit has worked with residents through the Greater Corktown Neighborhood Planning Framework and the Choice Neighborhoods program. Additional financial support for the development will come from the city and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to help offset construction costs.
The project is scheduled to open in spring 2029. The announcement did not provide a construction start date or a breakdown of the apartment mix.
The project demonstrates how brownfield funding can help address environmental liabilities that complicate residential development on previously used urban land. Soil removal, environmental assessment and protective barriers are key components of the planned site preparation.
For developers and construction teams, coordinating remediation with affordable housing delivery can help return underused properties to productive use while addressing environmental risks. EGLE reported that its brownfield program provided more than $23 million in incentives across 76 projects in 52 Michigan communities in 2025. Those projects were projected to generate more than 440 housing units, 600 jobs and over $675 million in capital investment.
Source: Michigan Government.
