Stafford House seeks 12-year commercial tax exemption for Oakland Avenue rehab; council delays vote to review accessibility

Stafford House Inc. asked the Detroit Planning & Economic Development Standing Committee on May 8 for a 12-year Commercial Facilities Exemption certificate for its renovation of 9301 Oakland Avenue in the city’s North End.

The project will rehabilitate a roughly 10,098-square-foot, two-story commercial building into 10 residential units above four ground-floor commercial spaces and estimated $3,200,000 in total capital investment, project representatives said. City staff told the committee the commercial portion of the work qualifies for the Commercial Facilities Exemption Act (Public Act 255 of 1978) and recommended a 12-year certificate based on an underwriting and net fiscal-impact analysis.

City staff and the developer said the financing stack is mostly grant-driven. “Financing for this project is comprised of 47% grant funding, 11% equity, and 42% debt,” a city presenter said. The assessor’s office letter dated Jan. 8, 2025, found the project eligible. Staff presented tax estimates showing current taxes on the property at about $183;…