Family-oriented affordable housing breaks ground in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood

Construction is underway for new family-oriented affordable townhomes in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood.

The Preston Townhomes, expected to open to renters in September 2026, will offer 31 units of two- and three-bedroom housing to families making 30%-60% of the area median income.

Developers and city partners held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project Wednesday.

The project, a collaboration between Cinnaire Solutions, a nonprofit real estate development company, and GenesisHOPE community development organization, will be built on the former Detroit Eastern High School site now owned by Genesis Lutheran Church. GenesisHOPE operates out of the church offices, which will remain on the property after the housing construction.

The project came together after GenesisHOPE saw its neighborhood becoming more expensive and it wanted to help keep it affordable for families, said Cinnaire Solutions Development Analyst John Cipriano, who is managing the development.

“Islandview was seeing a lot of investment, very rapidly, a lot of market-rate investment, particularly, with its proximity to a lot of great amenities — the riverfront, Belle Isle,” Cipriano told Crain’s. “It was becoming unaffordable.”

GenesisHOPE provided the vision for the project and Cinnaire brought 32 years of experience building affordable housing, including in Detroit.

The $14.1 million project is funded by the city of Detroit’s Home Investment Partnership Program, the Detroit Housing Commission, the Tax Exempt Bond and Gap Financing Program under the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and Low Income Housing Tax Credits from Cinnaire, as well as grants from partners including the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, according to a news release.

Christian Hurttienne Architects designed the townhomes and Bingham Farms-based MHT Construction is the contractor.

Within the complex, eight units are reserved for people at or below 30% AMI ($24,240 for two people and $30,300 for a family of four in Wayne County), five are reserved for those making at or below 50% ($40,400 and $50,500, respectively) and 18 are for people making at or below 60% AMI ($48,480 for two people and $60,600 for a family of four).

Rent starts at $849 per month for a two-bedroom unit and $978 for a three-bedroom, Cipriano said, although those making below 30% AMI will not have to pay the full cost. A two-bedroom unit will be approximately 914-1,050 square feet and a three-bedroom unit will be 1,170 square feet.

“It’s not often you get a lot of developments that put large units that are affordable and nice quality and open to families on the market,” Cipriano said. “… We’re really excited to be able to provide that for Islandview again.”