The Gilbert Family Foundation and North Corktown Neighborhood Association Partner on Showcase to Highlight Innovative, Accessible Housing Solutions 

    • The Gilbert Family Foundation’s multi-million investment will support North Corktown Neighborhood Association to build Tomorrow’s Housing Innovation Showcase, a special development project that will create up to nine modern, factory-built homes.  
    • North Corktown Neighborhood Association (NCNA) is convening community meetings so residents can inform the design and development of the homes. 
    • The initiative seeks to engage factory-built housing companies to consider bringing manufacturing to Detroit.
       

DETROIT – Feb. 8, 2024 – The Gilbert Family Foundation and North Corktown Neighborhood Association (NCNA) today announced Tomorrow’s Housing Innovation Showcase (THIS), a new effort to show the potential for factory-built housing to provide high-quality and attainable homes for Detroiters to purchase. NCNA has begun to engage residents in its plans, which will use future-forward sustainable production methods that have proven successful in other U.S cities. 

Tomorrow’s Housing Innovation Showcase will engage up to nine different manufacturers, each of which will build one modern, energy-efficient home in North Corktown. NCNA will establish a community land trust (CLT) to manage the project, ensuring that the homes are developed in alignment with the community’s needs and that local renters and first-time homebuyers have the first opportunity to own the homes. The parcels used for the project have been vacant for decades. 

“For years, we’ve heard from our residents that North Corktown needs diverse housing options, and this project is one solution to address the housing gaps,” said Tricia Talley, NCNA Executive Director. “We appreciate the support of residents who are proud to call North Corktown home and want to collaborate on bringing the project to life.”  

The Gilbert Family Foundation’s investment is aligned with its extensive housing strategy aimed at fostering an inclusive Detroit where all residents can prosper. This commitment adds to the foundation’s various investments, including initiatives like the Detroit Tax Relief Fund, the Detroit Eviction Defense Fund, and the Detroit Home Repair Fund, all geared towards enhancing economic growth and housing stability for the people of Detroit. 

“At one time in our history, Detroit built more housing than any city in the world, but today, Detroit lacks quality, affordable housing solutions,” said Laura Grannemann, Executive Director of the Gilbert Family Foundation. “This investment will showcase the next generation of housing solutions, putting Detroit at the center of housing innovation and attracting future jobs and investment to our city. We are grateful for this opportunity to lay the groundwork for a more stable housing ecosystem alongside our partners at North Corktown Neighborhood Association.”  

NCNA has engaged Tribe Development, a real estate development firm focused on creating holistic community solutions, to facilitate community engagement meetings through mid-2024. Residents will play a critical role in defining the direction of the Showcase by providing feedback on the proposed CLT and its governance, design considerations for the homes and other important areas.  

The factory-built homes will be unveiled in late 2024.

About North Corktown Neighborhood Association 

The North Corktown Neighborhood Association is the neighborhood group organized and consisting of residents, business owners, and stakeholders within the boundaries of the North Corktown neighborhood. There are general meetings held 4 times a year, with the goal of bringing together all the association members for updates and discussion on current news and initiatives involving North Corktown, as well as planning community improvements through individual and committee led projects. For more information, please visit www.northcorktown.org. 

About Gilbert Family Foundation 

The Gilbert Family Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation founded by Jennifer and Dan Gilbert to accelerate a cure for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and build economic opportunity and equity in the city of Detroit. The Gilbert Family Foundation supports groundbreaking, cutting-edge research in hopes of eradicating NF1, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves anywhere in the body. Additionally, the Foundation supports the economic stability and mobility of residents in Detroit by investing in wealth-building opportunities and breaking down systemic barriers. For more information on the Gilbert Family Foundation, please visit gilbertfamilyfoundation.org.