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Council moves to explore rehabilitation of Palmer Park historic apartments after receivership reports
Summary
Councilmember Whitfield Callaway pressed HRD to act on Palmer Park’s Albert Kahn‑era apartment stock, saying 14 of 21 buildings are in receivership and owe about $4.4 million in taxes; council placed a motion into the closing resolution to pursue rehabbing priority properties.
Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway on March 26 urged the City of Detroit to address the deterioration of historic apartment buildings around Palmer Park, telling colleagues that a cluster of architecturally notable units built between the 1920s and 1960s needs urgent intervention.
“I think 21 of the buildings were purchased by one company out of Phoenix ... 14 of the 21 are in total receivership ... And they owe close to $4,400,000 in property taxes,” Callaway said, summarizing the situation as she described it to Director Julie Schneider and HRD staff.
Schneider responded that HRD has begun building a comprehensive inventory for the neighborhood and has identified roughly 12–18 properties in the worst condition that may require immediate assistance or enforcement. She said HRD will coordinate with Planning and Development (PDD) and the Historic District Commission to develop a rehabilitation path that respects the area’s historic character while enabling repairs.
Councilmember Callaway made a motion to add continued conversations and exploration of city support for rehabbing the identified properties into the closing resolution; the chair recorded the motion and no members objected, so the item was entered into the closing resolution for further executive‑session discussion and funding consideration.
HRD staff reiterated tools they expect to use, including federal historic tax credits, low‑income housing tax credits, the Detroit Housing for the Future Fund and newly revived Section 108 financing to assemble capital for preservation work. Rebecca Labove, HRD’s Chief Development and Investment Officer, said the department is introducing loan products and low‑interest capital options to help owners and developers pursue rehabilitation where feasible.
Callaway asked for an on‑the‑ground walk‑through of candidate properties with HRD and council staff; HRD agreed to return with a more detailed inventory and to work with the council member’s office on next steps.
The motion did not appropriate funds at the hearing; council instructed administration to add the item to the closing resolution and to include specific funding requests and language in the executive session spreadsheet that the administration is compiling ahead of final budget decisions.
