Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Supportive Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission recommends City Council review of Hope Apartments adaptive‑reuse plan for former Embassy Suites
Summary
Planning staff recommended and the commission forwarded a favorable recommendation to City Council for a site plan to convert the former Embassy Suites at 28100 Franklin into 175 supportive housing units with wrap‑around services for people aging out of foster care; the proposal triggers a community impact review because the building exceeds 150,000 sq ft.
The Southfield Planning Commission voted May 27 to recommend that City Council approve the site plan for Hope Apartments, a proposed adaptive reuse of the former Embassy Suites at 28100 Franklin Road that would provide 175 residential units and on‑site supportive services for people aging out of foster care.
Staff described the proposal as consistent with the Regional Center zone and the master plan’s regional mixed‑use designation. The proposed redevelopment would include daycare/Head Start facilities, medical and dental clinics, training classrooms, a cafeteria and community amenities such as an indoor basketball court, theater, rooftop green space and pickleball courts. The building’s scale (reported at roughly 175 dwelling units and over 150,000 square feet) triggered the city’s community impact statement process, so the commission’s action was a recommendation to council rather than final approval.
Jamie Fitzgerald, associate executive director of The New Foster Care, said the program provides “wrap‑around multi‑disciplinary support” and that the project would serve legal adults ages 18–29 living in the program. She told commissioners funding sources include state funds, private donors and contributions from a principal supporter, though exact dollar amounts were not disclosed during the hearing.
Commissioners asked whether only program participants would live in the building; petitioners said the majority of residents would be participants, with a small number of supportive staff or resident advisors as appropriate. Planner Crow recommended approval to council, noting the proposal meets appearance, circulation, barrier‑free access and site‑design standards; recommended conditions include implementation of the Southfield Police Crime Prevention Bureau’s security suggestions and compliance with permits, inspections and any required ZBA waivers.
Commissioners praised the concept and programming for serving a pressing local need. “This is a good reuse of the building,” one commissioner said, noting the site’s large parking supply and suitability for mixed uses. The commission voted to forward a favorable recommendation to City Council; because the project exceeds the community‑impact thresholds, the council will carry out final site‑plan approval.
Ending: The items will appear on City Council’s agenda for study on June 8 and later public hearings; the commission’s recommendation and staff conditions will be part of the council record.
Quotes: Jamie Fitzgerald, The New Foster Care: “We provide wrap‑around, multi‑disciplinary support for young adults who’ve aged out of foster care.” Planner Crow (City planning staff): project “meets the site plan standards for appearance, barrier‑free access, coordination with adjacent sites, pedestrian circulation and access.”
