District 7 council member highlights housing, parks, procurement and snow-removal investments

Detroit City Council member Fred Derhall outlined recent neighborhood projects and policy initiatives for District 7 during the March 11 evening community meeting at Cadiz Baptist Church.

Derhall, who represents the city’s Seventh District, told residents the district has seen new sidewalks and safety improvements along the Dexter Streetscape, reopened parks (including Tireman, Minock and Greenview Wadsworth) and public-art work along the Joe Louis Greenway. He said those projects aim to improve walkability and neighborhood quality of life while supporting local businesses.

The council member also described policy work on housing and procurement. Derhall said the “Fast Track Pilot Ordinance,” which he sponsored and said passed in October, aims to encourage housing developers to build units affordable to households earning up to 120% of area median income (AMI). He also said the ordinance leverages “Michigan Public Act 239 of 2022” to speed approvals for qualifying affordable housing projects.

Derhall said he sponsored a procurement ordinance passed in February that raises procurement thresholds and streamlines the bidding process to make city contracting more accessible to small and minority-owned businesses.

On winter accessibility, Derhall said he had advocated during the FY2024–25 budget for a $1,220,000 expansion of Serve Detroit, a program that supports community groups providing free snow removal for seniors and residents with disabilities. He described that funding as addressing mobility and safety needs during harsh winter months.

Residents at the meeting pressed for local recreation and construction updates. Jarrell Harris, deputy director of the city’s General Services Department, said rec-center construction work would accelerate in spring and summer. Council member Bivendorf noted $20 million had been allocated for a recreation center at the Bridal Poole site and an additional $8.5 million for the Dexter-Amherst community center; officials said covering an Olympic-sized pool could cost around $10 million.

Derhall closed by urging continued civic engagement—saying that much of the progress came from constituent requests—and by thanking volunteers, neighborhood patrollers, and local school staff who were recognized during his remarks.