Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dba Reappointment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Operations committee moves Chris Jackson reappointment to Detroit Building Authority to formal
Summary
The committee heard a 10:15 interview of Chris Jackson, who sought reappointment to the Detroit Building Authority (DBA). Jackson described 15 years of service, DBA’s role managing capital projects and local contracting goals; the committee sent the reappointment to formal with a recommendation to approve.
The Operations Standing Committee conducted a 10:15 interview with Chris Jackson on his reappointment to the Detroit Building Authority and voted to send the reappointment to formal with a recommendation to approve.
Chris Jackson described roughly 15 years on the Detroit Building Authority (DBA), saying his time covered multiple administrations and that DBA acts as the city’s project-management arm for capital projects on city-owned property. “It’s been a pleasure to serve in that capacity,” Jackson said.
Jackson said DBA has taken responsibility for the city’s commercial real-estate portfolio and highlighted local contracting: he told the committee that in the prior two years DBA executed roughly $200 million in contracts and that “somewhere around 75% of that is Detroit-based businesses,” including minority- and women-owned firms. He cited examples of projects overseen by DBA: the public safety headquarters, the Rosa Parks transit center, an Eighth Precinct project and a $150 million Coolidge project referred to as a major hub for D-DOT.
Members questioned Jackson about maintenance and prioritization of city-owned facilities, especially aging underground parking structures and fire stations. Jackson said project priorities are set by council and the administration through capital budgets and department requests; DBA executes projects once funding is available. He said municipal parking had requested repairs to the Ford Underground parking structure and that DBA has sometimes performed building assessments at a department’s request.
Jackson agreed to follow up on a pending land-acquisition matter for a Twelfth Street food pantry. He said Summit Realty, a Detroit-based brokerage retained by DBA, handles acquisitions and that he would check in with DBA staff and Summit to expedite action. “I can definitely check-in with Mr. Clifton, who’s the director, as well as the representatives from Summit,” Jackson said.
After the interview the committee voted to send the reappointment to formal with a recommendation to approve. A resolution supporting the reappointment was noted as having been forwarded to the clerk’s office.
Jackson also described DBA interest in partnering on larger flood-plain and infrastructure projects — including work in Jefferson Chalmers to address flooding — and emphasized DBA’s focus on maximizing Detroit-based contractor participation on city projects.
