Thursday, February 19th, 2026.

Mr.

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Good morning, Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

Present.

Councilmember Gabriel Santiago Romero.

Present.

Council Pro Tim Coleman Young, second.

Uh pro Tim is on his way up.

He will be here shortly.

The clerk will so no.

Madam Chair, there's a corner.

Thank you.

Having a quorum present, we are now in session.

Good morning, Member Santiago Romero.

Is there a motion on the minutes?

Motion to approve.

There's a motion to approve the minutes.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

And we will move into general public comment.

If there is anyone joining us in person or virtually who'd like to make a public comment during this general public comment, please raise your hand.

General public comment will be cut off in two minutes at 10 05.

We do have one hand raised in the committee of the whole.

Good morning, Miss Great.

How many hands do we have raised virtually?

Good morning, madam chair.

We currently have 11 hands raised for virtual public comment.

All right, we're going to give everyone one minute and 30 seconds.

So if we can please set the clock for one minute, 30 seconds, we will ask Mr.

Foster to join us for in person.

General public comment.

Good morning.

Through the chair, just a few things.

Affordable housing.

I just want to highlight a few things.

In 1968, the Fair Housing Act was established.

It wasn't established because of the Jim Crow South.

It was established because of northern governance.

And particularly in Chicago, and the way that administrations and councils did business in the north and discriminated.

And so I think that's important to know that a lot of those systemic discrimination still exists.

No, it prohibits discrimination in um in um housing, financing, rental base on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familiar status.

It applies to most housing.

And so I think that's just important.

I don't want to go too far into it, but our city has been undermined when it comes down to our housing.

A lot of discrimination.

We have to do better with where our hood funds is going to.

And um, I think that's just very important as a citizen, as one that fought in the federal government.

I think it's important that we protect that and ensure that those funds go where they're supposed to go.

Thank you.

Thank you.

If the clerk will please note that pro Tim Young has joined us.

Thank you.

And to also note that general public comment has been cut off.

Who's our first caller virtually?

Our first caller is William M.

Davis.

William M.

Davis, you have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Uh good morning.

Can I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

You know, I I think that now we should be looking at lowering the threshold for community benefits.

You know, the threshold was set a little high.

In fact, it was set very high, I think, because the the major emphasis was and continues to be on downtown.

I think we need to be doing more in the communities in the neighborhoods.

As I drive around the city, I notice there are large areas that have a number of apartment buildings that are closed, shut down.

At the same time, I know this driving throughout the city.

We still have a housing issue.

It seems like some of these issues could be, you know, an opportunity to resolve some of them.

Because you know, as I drive around through every district, I I see apartment vacant apartment buildings.

And don't get me wrong, apartment buildings is not ideal for families, but it could be ideal for senior people or couples or some elderly people.

I think we need to be doing more in the communities, doing more in the neighborhoods, and reduce the emphasis on downtown.

And also I think we need to be making sure that entities like Joe Lewis, not Joe Lawrence, excuse me, the little Caesar Arena should be paying the city something directly, like the Joe Lewis Arena used to do.

Y'all have a good day, young people.

Thank you.

You as well.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Owner Papa.

Owner Papa, you have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Good morning.

And uh through the chair, may I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

I I agree with the last caller, uh Mr.

Davis.

Yes, you aren't doing enough for the neighborhoods.

And there's a uh memorandum for tax abatements for district six.

I would like to hear that.

I would like to see that broken out for every district so that we can start more equitably uh distributing federal funds and state funds so that everybody is coming up and you know, because they say it it right it raises all boats, but this is we're not being raised up.

You saw the people from Leland, you saw the report of the dismal condition of the senior citizens' homes, and um we continue to you know spend money on things that are irrelevant to the majority of the people in the city of Detroit.

Um you agree to two condominiums at market price for Corktown, and your comment was you're looking forward to new people.

Well, Ms.

Johnson, you are responsible for the people that are here today, right now, not for people who you hope to come, but people who are here, and you are spending our funds.

And I noticed that Mr.

Um the what is he, LPD, Mr.

Whitaker, Mr.

Whitaker works on what he wants to work on.

We have memorandums from last year that haven't been responded to, and we have a memorandum for today about parking for miss for district six.

I'm a little tired of you focusing just on one district.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Betty A.

Varner.

Betty A.

Varner, you have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Uh good morning to all within the sound of my voice.

I'm Betty A.

Varner, president of the Soda Els World Black Association.

But today I'm talking uh and asking for help as a resident of the city of Detroit.

I'm trying to get information about the Lifeline H2O program.

I did mention it yesterday.

And if someone did respond to my request, I apologize.

I had to leave the meeting.

I got an important phone call.

I am I have been approved for that program, and you are supposed to be able to pay $34 uh per month for your water bill.

And I received a uh my bill for March, and it stated that it was past due.

And I paid my $34.

I called the water company, and they say the way the program worked is the amount that you haven't paid, is going to be frozen, and you will see receive a pass due bill.

And they said for me, in June of this year, uh, I would be able to pay the accrued amount in full, or I could get on a payment plan.

This is not how this uh plan was explained to me.

I didn't receive anything in writing, and I'm quite sure there's other people in my same position that do not understand if this is how this program works, it needs to be explained.

So I'm asking for someone from the water department to explain this program.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is please stop land bank nuisance abatement program.

Good morning, caller.

You have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Good morning, caller.

Are you there?

Good morning, Maby Hur.

Good morning, yes.

Okay.

Um first of all, please don't do what Mr.

Tate did, and we got an agenda so jam-packed, we get shortchanged on the time to comment uh about things.

Remember what the charter says the city's a service organization, subordinate to the people, not the developers.

The reason they want to bring in more people is they want more income because the cities uh from what I've heard on shaky um shaky financial grounds, and you know, one of the ways you could do this quit funding the land bank, taking people's property, and you should stop it right now because there could be serious um financial implications if that lawsuit in federal court wins, and plus it's black history month, folks.

Stop taking people's property and black people's property.

Very uncool, not a good look.

And we're speaking of uh memos that have not been responded to.

What about Mary Waters' memo to Attorney General Dana Nessel opinion on the legality of the nuisance abatement program?

I don't know why you have a nest LPD on it.

And um, and when it comes to the solar takings, you have the right to give people more compensation.

We're paying to get people fixed up land bank homes that are turnkey ready, but you're not doing that for the solar taking victims, and you're really putting people through a lot of harm, not a good look.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is iPhone.

iPhone, you have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Uh I'm uh this is Sunday, not iPhone.

I don't know.

Uh I I got plenty to talk about.

I don't know what I went to three rec centers the other day.

Well, they had uh camp at Coleman.

Now I've been there, and that's the best swimming schedule.

Are you listening to me?

Okay.

Yeah, phone done, Mark too.

Okay, anyway.

They they don't have very good uh equipment compared to uh Michigan Rehab Institute, and I want people you you have to get into the details if you want quality.

And I'll I'll go over to uh Patton and uh I went swimming there and I thought and then I went over to the meeting and Kim and I called they put the swimming pool, they made a basement out of it when uh the gas polluter over there paid for the rehab.

They made the pool into a basement.

So this is uh concerning uh you've got the really cheap equipment over there at Kemani uh uh for exercise.

You need to people need to be involving the people that work there.

You put a slick floor down on the cement around the pool at Patton.

You already did that.

I told you don't do it at that of in the locker room where there's water, you don't want a proxy floor, and thank you.

The next caller.

The next caller is Steven Rimmer.

Stephen Rimmer, you have one minute 30 seconds for general public comment.

Good morning.

Can you hear me?

Good morning, yes.

Uh good morning, council.

Uh thank you all.

I just want to say thanks again for um, you know, everything that was discussed on Tuesday in regards to Lena House.

Just wanted to share a little bit more information with you all on the previous court hearing that we had on February 3rd was for our motion to be heard that was filed by the Detroit Tenant Union and our attorneys uh to stop the movement crew.

Um so at that hearing, it was discussed by uh the property owner's attorney Ryan Hallman.

He stated that they have received test results for the electrical system and that to repair the switch gear and three of the six transformers will cost 75,000.

Um, I think it's important to note that Carr spoke about this on Tuesday saying that the owner told the bankers in court they have 77,000, so they can make those repairs right now to get three of the transformers working.

Um, and I say that too.

Um I have been working with residents, you know, day after day.

Two residents who worked for the building as maintenance crew confirmed that there was only one transformer working over the past four two years.

So repairing the three would restore more power before they had when the power was open out.

Also important to note um Mr.

Russian's comments that he gave on Tuesday.

He noted that over the past three years uh the property was out of compliance, but it had not deteriorated to the point they felt it needed to be evacuated.

Um we think that is very important if the power is back on, then the resident should be able to move back in.

Nobody has many bigger had new process.

Um running out of time here.

There's also a lot more that I have.

Um, but really would like to have a conversation with you all.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is caller ending in 992.

Caller ending in 992.

You have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Caller ending in 992.

Good morning.

Are you there?

Okay, let's return back to this caller.

Our next caller is caller ending in 482.

Caller ending in 482.

You have one minute 30 seconds for general public comment.

Hey, Latin.

Johnson.

Listen up to this.

Hey, Coleman.

Remember what I told you, right?

I'm one of the codes.

Ain't no secret about it now.

I'm outside, outside, outside, outside, outside, Mr.

Roo.

Now over there.

Which should be to your right or left is a liar.

Gabriela Santiago Ramirez.

She lied on public record.

Saying she read the findings on the allegations of voter fraud by anonymous citizen report on May the ninth.

2024.

Well, I gave your mother comment.

The findings on the allegations of voter fraud by anonymous citizen report done by Janice M.

Winfrey on the 22nd.

I also gave it to Fred Durha and that whole committee that was up there.

The city of Detroit is corrupt and corrupted, and y'all cheated in.

Ever since he came over from Jackie Curry.

He used to work for decades.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is call in user one.

Call in user one.

You have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Can I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Good morning, Mr Johnson.

Can you end the uh respond to my email?

I was asking about bringing some new vocational skills here in Detroit from electricals to eyelash technician training.

I'd like for someone from both Johnson and Young office to get back with me.

Um if that can be introduced.

Um when you complain to City Council or building in safety to protect residents from having to be retaliated against.

Always, and it's been a joy working with you over the years, and of course, my favorite is young.

Um, because I love the dad, the baby.

Thank you, and I'll be sure to respond to your email.

The next caller.

Cunningham, you have one minute 30 seconds for general public comment.

Hallelujah is the highest phrase.

Hallelujah.

Thank you, God.

Thank you.

The next caller.

I believe we were going back to caller ending in 882.

Madam Chair, that caller is no longer on Zoom.

All right, thank you.

Well, that concludes our general public comment.

And because we have two minutes, I am going to move to unfinished business and line item six point one.

Line item six point one is the status of council member Letitia Johnson submitting memorandum relative to Hands Farms LLC purchase agreement.

Colleagues, the Detroit Land Bank Authority has requested a one-week bring back.

Is there a motion?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item six point one back in one week.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item six point two status of council member Letitia Johnson submitted memorandum relative to request for legal research on property management agreements.

Is there a motion to receive and file line item six point two?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item six point three, status of council member Gabriela Santiago Romero, submitting memorandum relative to tax abatements in District Six.

Is there a motion to receive and file line item six point three, noting that line item seven point three has the response?

Uh motion to receive and file six point three.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

And that now brings us to 1025.

And I'd like to call the 1025 public hearing to order.

The 1025 public hearing is the up the request for an approval for a plant rehabilitation certificate on behalf of BD Venture Studio LLC in the general area of one five three zero winder, in accordance with public act one ninety-eight of nineteen seventy-four.

And we have a number of individuals that are joining us.

If you are joining us, and um you have not been moved over to panelists, if you will please raise your hand if you are here to speak on line item five.

And once you see yourself on the screen, please introduce yourself for the record.

Uh applicant.

Um, on behalf of the applicant.

Good morning.

And are we still expecting Corey Levin?

Right.

Madam Chair, you may feel free to proceed.

Uh Mr.

Levin is not available.

Okay, thank you.

All right, who'd like to uh get us started?

I will.

Thank you.

To the chair, BD Venture Studio LLC is requesting a plant rehabilitation certificate in the area of 1530 winder, Detroit, Michigan, in accordance with public act one ninety-eight of nineteen seventy-four.

This is a certificate and final public hearing scheduled in front of this honorable committee before a certificate may be issued.

I have a development team and DEGC to provide a presentation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

To the chair, may I share my screen, please?

Yes.

Thank you.

Okay.

I think we're ready here.

Um, so today, 1530 Winder led by Jonathan Updike is requesting the approval of a PA198 industrial facilities exemption certificate for plant rehabilitation.

Before getting into the project details, I would like to explain the purpose and function of the requested tax incentive.

PA198 was enacted by the state of Michigan to promote the development of new industrial facilities and or the rehabilitation or expansion of aging industrial facilities for eligible manufacturing or high-tech industrial uses.

Per state statute, rehab projects will have the taxable value frozen at the pre-rehab level, while new construction receives a 50% reduction on property taxes generated from the new building improvements.

The exemption may be approved for up to 12 years.

There is no reduction to the existing property taxes, and the incentive benefits are not generated until after the completion of construction.

On September 2nd, the assessor's office for the city of Detroit provided a letter confirming this project's eligibility for the PA198 IFE exemption.

This project is located at 1530 Winder in the Eastern Market neighborhood of Council District 5.

1530 Winder is a 4.7 million dollar rehabilitation commercial project.

Upon completion, 18,800 square feet will be reactivated into incubator space for small Detroit-based businesses.

The DGC has conducted its evaluation of the project.

As part of our evaluation, we ensure that every project meets specific policy objectives.

Projects should provide strategic benefits that align with the city's goals and initiatives, economic benefits that create opportunities for Detroit residents and businesses, and generate fiscal benefits for the city.

Projects should also meet the BUT 4 requirement, indicating that financially the project cannot proceed without the incentive.

1530 Winder demonstrates strategic benefits by eliminating blight, reactivating a vacant building, and partnering with Detroit-based businesses to occupy the rehabilitated facility.

1530 Winder demonstrates economic benefits by creating 20 temporary construction jobs and creating five permanent FTE jobs.

1530 Winder generates a 12-year benefit of 127,970, which is approximately 10,664 on average per year.

Through the DGC underwriting review, we have determined that the project meets the BUT 4 requirements due to the substantially lower than average return of return for the uh rate of return for the project.

Through the DGC's analysis, we have determined that the existing annual taxes on the property are $6,685.

Upon completion of the development project, the new unabated property taxes are estimated to increase to approximately 40,784.

With the abatement applied, the total annual property taxes would be reduced to $6,905.

This concludes my portion of the presentation, Madam Chair, and I will now turn it over to the developer, Jonathan Updike, to discuss additional benefits about the development.

Thank you all.

Thank you, Alton, and thank you, Councilmember Johnson.

Um my name is Jonathan Updike.

Um I am uh an active uh investor and business owner in Detroit.

Um you want to move forward, Alton.

So um 1530 winder.

Uh well, I'll quickly introduce some of the things that I've been working on just for context.

So uh if you see in that picture, the building in the upper right to the right of the the circle, that is Marrow uh in the market, which is a both a meat processing plant and a restaurant that my partners and I and Ping Ho developed um and opened in the fall that actually uh had two tax abatements on it, which helped to uh make the project possible.

Um, and so I think just a track record of uh coming before this body and delivering on promises.

Um I'm also involved in uh as a partner in Greatwater Opportunity Capital, which includes uh our home building that we're doing in the East Village.

We've now uh built or sold approximately 33 homes in the East Village.

So I think it's probably one of the largest single family home development in the city right now.

Um all to say that that when we take on projects, we we work to deliver.

Um 1530 Winder has been was uh last used as a spice warehouse in the early 1990s.

Um the property has been uh entirely vacant since then.

Um and uh you know pretty much an empty empty wall along a street that that no one has been able to access.

Um from a site layout perspective, uh there is no parking requirement due to MKT zoning that that passed a couple years ago, but there is ample street parking um around the market and in the eastern market public area.

Um the there is a loading and unloading zone located in the rear of the building.

Um we anticipate that will be where all any trucks uh picking up and delivering goods will be.

Um there's only one residential building in in the general vicinity, and that's the ENB brewery lofts across the street, which would not be interrupted by the loading zone.

Uh we plan to have two ADA accessible toilet rooms with grab bars in accordance with ADA standards.

Um we are also going to cut down.

If if you saw that wall in the front, we're putting some retail spaces on Winder, and we would cut down the cement there because the cement is about a foot uh higher than the sidewalk.

So we we would make it much easier to access those retail spaces uh also for ADA and just general um safety.

Um and then there will be ramps up to the production spaces and office spaces.

Um the we plan to put some skylights in and make uh improve the lighting.

Um I don't think we even wrote it in, but um we have the alley maintenance agreement already for that alley, and we plan to uh fully pave the alley, which the alley is in bad shape right now, except for the part that we did by Marrow.

Um we also plan to put on a new roof and and foam insulation that will be good from a sustainability perspective.

Um we'll be adding energy efficient windows and glass doors, um, new high efficiency mechanical systems, energy star appliances, and uh more of the walls of the building will be insulated.

Um will be left exposed because it's a really interesting brick layout, but uh, but we plan to cover some of the walls for for insulation and and food production purposes.

Um mentioned before the five full-time jobs.

So the the goal of the facility is to be uh to serve as our venture studio or or similar to what we'd call an incubator, um, where companies go to work in their early stages and start.

Um those five full-time jobs will actually be part of Brand Detroit, which is our investment and and venture studio company.

Um we just actually brought in our first uh our head of our venture studio named Sean Sheelin.

There was a Crane's article earlier this week.

Um he's an expert in in helping consumer package goods companies grow their businesses and take them out to distribution.

Um he's building a team of individuals that will provide functional support like marketing and logistics and and supply chain procurement uh that will work across the companies helping them to grow.

So those are the five full-time jobs by us, but then the companies will be tenants in the facility, and we expect at least 25 jobs inside the facility working on early stage food production, um, including founders, management, and production positions.

So a variety of different um positions with different skills, um, you know, from uh likely baking and food production jobs uh that will be hourly as well as salaried um management positions and founders of companies.

Um in addition, uh we expect that companies will the goal is to grow jobs and grow Detroit-based companies that will eventually leave the space to because they outgrow them and need their own bigger spaces, which is good for the economy in Detroit as well.

Um we also plan to have about 20 construction jobs.

Um I also submitted a few letters from neighbors.

Um, you know, there aren't a ton of neighbors in that area, but uh the largest neighbor, EW Groble that has the corn beef company up on up at the end of the block, um, submitted a letter letter of support, Eastern Market Development Corporation uh submitted a letter of support.

Submitted a letter letter of support.

Submitted a letter of support.

This is very much in line with their vision for what they want to see in Eastern Market with both food production and some retail hospitality built into it as well, especially in the core area.

What they didn't want to see is everything turn into boutique fashion boutiques and you know other things that if you if you visit the meat packing district in New York, you see what there isn't really any meat packing anymore.

We actually put a new meat packer into Eastern Market, proud to say, and uh plan to put more food production into Eastern Market.

Um we also share the alley with Detroit City Distillery, and and they submit a letter of support.

Uh we also share the street with Strauss Brothers, which is a uh pasta sauce company, um, and they submitted a letter of support as well.

Um, I would and I and I noted there are very few residents in the in the area, so there's not really a large contingent of of uh you know folks who this would disrupt.

Um it's a one one loft building across the street that doesn't have a ton of units.

Thank you.

Anything further from the development team.

Uh Madam Chair, I had nothing to add at this point, but we'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Okay, thank you.

Attorney Barcliff.

Good morning.

You have before you BD Venture Studio LOC seeking an industrial facilities exemption exemption for certificate for a project um located at 153 winder between Ryle Pill and New Orleans Street, which was built in 1960.

Um the project is for the conversion of a vacant warehouse located in the Eastern Market District into an incubator style um space focused on food processing and production for the emerging Detroit-based consumer packaged companies.

The property um is currently for 14,826 square feet.

However, a mezzanine will be um constructed within the building, increasing the square footage to 18,800 square feet of interior space.

The space will be reconfigured to include small production base for the lease and license for approximately four to six companies.

This would include a commissary kitchen for use as a research and development space for product runs, shared dry storage, and coal storage spaces.

The co-working co-working spaces is space for related uses such as office and storefront operations.

This project will require major reconfiguration, rehabilitation, and placement uh replacement of major systems, which includes concrete and masonry work, um, structural improvements, carpentry, the replacement of doors, windows, and flooring, uh, major systems improvements, which include plumbing, electrical, fire protection, HVEC, roofing siding installation, and engineering work.

The estimated total capital investment for this project is 4.7 million.

The project is estimated to create five tenant jobs and 20 temporary construction jobs.

The total value of the 12-year industrial facilities exemption tax saving is estimated at 445,468.

This project is estimated to provide the city of Detroit with a net benefit of 127,970, and a total net benefit of 139,000 for all impacted taxing jurisdictions combined over the 12 years of the abatement.

And that concludes our presentation.

All right, thank you so much.

Um just to um clarify a couple of things.

So to the developer, um, I know it was indicated that you're creating five spaces.

Can you give a breakdown of the square footage of those spaces?

And I do recall, I believe it was last year when this project came before the Plan Economic Development Committee.

Um, it was indicated that market rate is about $20 per square foot.

Um, can you share the breakdown square footage-wise and what the um rate will be square footage?

Yeah, so each of the spaces, um, so what I anticipate now is the is the retail spaces will be closer to 20, but they will be small.

So, you know, uh three of them will be like 400 square feet, so you know, 1,200 a month kind of spaces.

Um the uh and then the production spaces will range from um you know a couple thousand to three thousand square feet um with some mezzanines built in.

Um, and um I'm you know, part of the underwriting is getting as depth in-depth as we can into the uh construction costs and then financing costs, and uh really try to make the the rent triangulate with the um with the amounts.

I want to get the rents down closer to 15 um for the industrial space, uh, but you know, we'll do our best with all the with all the costs and making it work with the bank.

So for clarification, you indicated that the um rental rates for the smaller uh retail spaces will be you're anticipating 20 per square foot.

Do you know if market rate has increased?

Um market rate is held relatively steady.

Um, and so I think I think the I think 20 is reasonable for front facing retail.

Um, and then 15 would be reasonable for a production space in you know in a high traffic in this kind of zone where you're getting the benefits of being in the zone.

Can you share who your target audience is?

So I hear retail, but because there are no parking requirements, I'm wondering if it's not specifically um for retail sales.

Yeah, so the when it as an example, one of the tenants we are talking to um is uh if you know the chocolate company Bonbon Bon.

Um they've they're still relatively small but growing and they need some more space, and some of the idea would be to they would have a retail shop in front and a their chocolate factory and back.

Um, and that would give them you know the premium opportunity to be able to tour people through the chocolate factory in Eastern Market, which they have a small space in Hamtremock today, so it would move it would move a business from Ham Tramic to Detroit.

Um and the they're they're growing out of their space, but they it's so tight that they can't they can't offer chocolate tours.

So they they would be willing to pay a little bit of a premium to be in the market district.

Um it would bring new jobs and let them grow their company and grow their e-commerce and and support all their stores, of which there are other also two others in Detroit.

Thank you for that.

Um and I'm not sure if there is someone else who can uh respond to the parking requirement.

So if there is a retail outlet, is parking still, is there still no parking that's required in the area?

My my understanding on MKT, and because I went through this before with the the prior property, is that well before MKT you had to have a certain number of parking spaces close by, MKT waived all parking requirements within the market district area, uh, which is basically the the sheds and the the buildings that surround the sheds and and back into the the neighborhoods up to Quinder Cut.

Um and so uh no uh no parking requirements whatsoever with the idea that most of the buildings here are landlocked.

Um and so that was one of the corrections that um Dan Carmody and Katie Trudeau worked on to try to try to free up commerce in the area and make it easier to do business.

Yeah, and I do recall that I think um in various parts throughout the Eastern Market district, um the thought in the plan is to provide opportunities for makers for people that are producing um things, but I'm just wondering if it's a little different because it's retail sales.

So if someone um can provide to us parking within that general area, whether it's um public parking or what have you.

I know that there's street parking, um, but if someone can share with us what the uh parking looks like for the the area, that would be great.

Um, and then I just want to I know that it is a zero grade.

Um currently I appreciate the addressing of the concrete just to make it easier for um anyone, everyone to be able to access the space.

So thank you for that.

Colleagues, any questions, comments?

Pro Tim Young.

Thank you, ma'am chair.

Um I have a couple of them.

But the first one I want to start off with is on page I'm talking to uh DEGC, the presentation that you gave.

Oh, hello, by the way, everybody, can see uh the presentation that you gave on page seven.

If you could bring that up for everybody on the screen to see, I have a little bit of discrepancy in terms of the numbers.

All right, I am sharing my screen now.

Uh it talks about the DEGC review dash property tax impact.

This slide.

Yeah, it says improve with property taxes without incentives.

It's you have 40,784 on your presentation.

I have 32,063 on mine.

And then you said it says improved property with incentives to improve property taxes with incentives.

You got 6,905.

I got 6,865.

And I just want to know, is there like something you want to share with the rest of the class here?

Like what is that is yours right or is mine right?

What's or you you're trying to give me a flea flicker here?

What's going on?

Uh through through the chair.

Thank you for the question.

Uh Pro Tim.

So what I have on the screen right now, what we presented uh today, these are the accurate numbers.

Okay.

So the presentation previously, that was uh older slide deck.

Um with just the wrong numbers, quite frankly.

These are the updated numbers, these are the correct numbers here.

So what I got in my hand is a Fugazi.

Is that what you're telling me?

It was older, and we had to the older Fugezi.

We had to put the correct numbers uh in the slide deck, and we updated it earlier this week.

And this is the surprises, man.

This is a big one.

So let's make sure that it's older, newer.

Let's make sure that we all had the same numbers.

I don't I don't like when people hold out from me.

Yes, that's our our apologies, Pro Tim.

Yeah, I apologize.

Just don't do it.

All right.

Um I also wanted to ask another question I wanted to ask about um this project is involving um distribution of food.

And I just want to know has there been an analysis of what impact this would look.

I think it's a great project.

I'm supporting the project.

I just want to know do we have an analysis of what this would do in terms of reducing food insecurity within the city of Detroit?

Because we're talking about uh packaged food and processed food and people have access to food.

And I and I just came back from a um uh press conference yesterday about the Green Grocer Program, which I'm proud to sponsor, and uh for Candy's program over there, Durfee Innovation Center, and this is something, and and this is the business that I'm seeing that could benefit from what this service is with other small medium size uh grocery stores can benefit from.

I just want to know has there been an analysis in terms of the reduction of food insecurity from this project.

Um there has not been an analysis.

I think from uh from a goals perspective, these companies are you know our goal as Brand Detroit is to grow companies to become large companies, meaning they're distributing regionally and nationally.

Um and so I I wouldn't say the goal of the project well, I believe in solving food insecurity.

I think that's probably better solved through the efforts that Eastern Market Corporation has done, particularly through they just put up they're putting up all these new cold storage sheds for farmers to store goods closer to the city, and there's really great projects happening there, and we donate to the market for to support those.

But this is more this is more like venture capital to grow businesses and the idea that those businesses will be able to distribute much further, hire more Detroiters and grow into um national brands would be more the goal.

No, I appreciate that.

Not thank you for the analysis, but unfortunately I wasn't directing that question towards you, but I appreciate that.

Oh, sorry about that.

I appreciate that thoughtful response though.

Do we have anybody from uh DEGC at all, or is that something where you have to reach out to another department to be able to get that analysis um from?

I mean, I I'm assuming uh the urban farm urban farming or urban agriculture that you have to be willing to do that, but I would just think that when you're dealing with something like this for issue is critical as food and security is for City Detroit, there'd be some sort of analysis in terms of what this impact would have.

Yeah, through the chair, that's a great question.

Uh I do not have that answer, but I will ask internally um, you know, how we would go about you know conducting that report, and uh I will circle back with the committee with the response.

Yeah, I mean I'll just ask the DEG support its own projects, you know, just across the board.

I want to ask that.

I've also wanted to ask this.

This would be my final uh questions.

I also just wanted to ask what this project would be in terms of uh income inequality, the impact this would have this increase it, would this reduce it?

Uh what were what are the wages that the people that be at this facility be hiring?

Uh and also uh the debt to uh the debt uh gross domestic product, you know, does this increase, decrease?

I just want to know do we have an analysis of that from DEGC at all?

If we're income inequality, you could just index that to the Genie Index.

Yeah, so uh uh through the chair, I I do not have an analysis uh for the the debt to gross domestic product and um the the other categories you mentioned.

So that's something that I'll talk to my team internally about.

Thank you for the question.

No, no, no, no problem.

I appreciate that.

I I think this is a great project, and I look forward to supporting it.

So thank you, sir.

I appreciate that.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you.

Vice Chair Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good morning.

I just have brief questions.

Um more so curious uh to know any current issues with the property.

Um happy to know what the reconfiguration is going to be to meet the needs.

Um, but we know that we have um aging infrastructure at Easter Market.

So just wondering uh what the state of the property currently is.

Um thank you, council member.

Um I think uh as a high level, um the building is in pretty decent shape.

We actually had to make roof repairs to uh because it was leaking uh during the uh during some of the storms in the summer.

Um so we've we've had to do a couple things just to shore up.

Um but it's a it looks like a brick warehouse outside, but there's actually a steel superstructure inside.

So there's no there's no support posts, and the steel is in good shape.

Um so that's uh so that's good.

The alley is in in is a bit bumpy and rough shape, the sidewalks could use uh you know some upgrading.

Um and then the brickwork needs pointing and you know, some some of the the roof will need to be replaced because it you know that the repairs are temporary.

Um so you know, structurally it's sound and able to take what we want to do with it.

Um as far as configuration, um the uh as discussed the primary goal of the facility is production.

However, we're on this really cool street with uh an opportunity for you know to open up what's a brick wall today, and so we are planning five retail bays in front that will provide activity, like a potentially a chocolate shop.

One of them could be like a coffee shop.

We're talking about putting a bagel shop there or something that you know creates some more life on the street, more amenities for uh workers and residents in the area and visitors.

Um, and then you know, the intention of the retail shops is to showcase the wares of things being produced in the facility.

Um so you know, the companies that are there or um being able to show off what they do, and and you know, it's not uh it's not a super active retail district during the week, but on the Saturdays they becomes a big one.

So, you know, we expect that Saturdays will be the prime day to to show it off and make it um you know, really draw the market into more neighborhood, you know, and the versus just the sheds, which is um uh which I think is a neat goal.

There's it's a really cool walkable area.

Agreed.

Thank you through the chair.

And I I guess just a final question.

Uh it sounds like you do have some um uh ideas on how you're gonna fill the storefronts.

Is there any space at all right now for more opportunities for others uh to access our storefronts, or are you um pretty close to finalizing those conversations to use that space?

Uh no, we have we have we have room for others.

We were we uh we've got maybe one you know we've got partial commitments, you know, no one's gonna sign a lease, you know, a year and a half before we're pro or a year, a year and a half before a project's done, but um, but we have some good conversations growing.

Um, you know, and we want it to be for makers um to be able to show show off their stuff.

Um and there, you know, there will be office space also available, which we're it's a co-working space for startups.

Thank you.

Um I just wonder if there could be a space um for something that is affordable, deeply affordable um for folks that may not be able to already be in that middle phase of their business.

Um, but maybe just want a space.

Um so maybe as you're having these conversations, um I guess that's a question that I can ask now.

Would there be an open space for the public to come in and and work?

So the it's a conversation, you know.

I keep up a good dialogue with Katie and Eastern Market and uh Brendan on our team who focuses on technical assistance to businesses.

They're actually work, I think they got a grant now to open a second commissary kitchen.

And you know, I uh I'm I'm not like I'm a big supporter of it.

I guess what I see is there are different roles here, and our role is is to help there are a lot of small businesses that want that are likely or want to stay small businesses, they want to you know come in, bake their cookies, sell them at the at a few different fairs and do that every week.

And there are some that want to see their products on the shelves of Costco and Walmart someday.

Um and I think we're the graduating place, you know, that that those kitchens are the sort of lifeblood, the grassroots of starting starting food companies, and as they start to show promise or ambition, we're the type of people that come to to get to the next phase and get the support to get to that that next growth phase.

Um so I'm not I I I believe it's a noble goal, but I don't know that it's it's really it's meant to be the role of this.

This is meant to be the you know, the next springboard up, if you will.

Understood.

Um, and and that role is important.

Um I don't recall I might be mistaken, but there was a print shop at Easter Market.

Do we know whether or not that's still open?

Oh, signal return, are you referring to?

They are in the lantern now on Kirchhoff at McClellan.

Um they moved over there as part of that whole shepherd develop, you know, the little village separate development.

Okay, got it.

Um not related to us, but just I know that.

Correct.

Thank you.

And and I guess I I just share that because I think Easter Market is a really unique uh a beautiful unique space where it can hold all of the phases of of makers, whether that be prints, uh kitchen, um repair, right?

We've got folks repairing shoes, um, and just making sure that we have that space um and that we're creating the spaces for the other phases of uh of makers and and and where they are in their business.

Um, but that is something that's I'm going to keep in mind as as we're building and creating more opportunities and spaces, um, making sure that we are still um uh making accessible affordable uh spaces for for everyone um as well.

Uh but thank you.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

And to that point, I'm going to request that someone that from the development team please provide in writing um the breakdown, including square footage and the anticipated um rental rate per unit that is created here.

Um we will now move to um public comment for the public hearing, and I'm asking for the team, the development team, as well as um those representing the DGC or the city to please jat down the questions and we will ask for a response once we conclude uh public comment.

So if there is anyone joining us, whether in person or virtually who'd like to make a public comment regarding the public hearing that was just discussed, please raise your hand.

Please raise your hand.

Public comment, the collection of public comment will conclude in three seconds.

The collection of public comment has concluded.

Good morning, Ms.

Great.

How many hands do we have raised?

Madam Chair, we have five hands raised for virtual um comment.

Okay, we will stick with our one minute 30 seconds, and we can get started with the first caller.

Our first caller is Owner Papa.

Owner Papa, you have one minute 30 seconds for public comment regarding the public hearing.

Uh good afternoon, and through the chair, may I be heard?

Yes.

Thank you.

Um I I think it's a very good project, but I I have a few questions.

Um, Ms.

Barcliff, um you you indicate that 40,000 without the end of the without the incentive.

What would the property tax be if the incentive is in place?

Mr.

Williams, my question to you is when do you anticipate this this business, this proposition to begin to make a profit?

And uh to Mr.

Updike, um, could you um uh tell me if the um participation would still be there if maybe you got six years and not 12 years or uh extended years.

Um do you think that your project could still go forward with um less years?

Uh and to the body.

I I really believe that we all should participate in this, but 12 years of lower taxes.

Um, and now you're gonna have a uh a committee meeting today about putting more taxes on the people.

Um I think that we all should participate in this, but it should not just come from the the citizens, the residents.

Uh the general fund is being uh stretched to its limits.

And when you when you take from the general fund, because uh in essence that's what you're doing when you're giving people 12 and 15 years of you know these tax rates that uh citizens are paying 100%, and these people are paying, you know, some smaller amount, which seems to be a bit unfair.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is iPhone.

iPhone, you have one minute 30 seconds for public comment regarding the public hearing.

I believe that was Cindy Dara.

IPhone, are you still there?

Yeah, I'm here.

You have one minute and 30 seconds.

Uh I just want to remind you about Jamaica Plains.

When I worked in Boston for a while, they had a thing to help people start.

They could come and use the kitchen and make stuff and then put labels on it to help the market.

That was helping the little people just locally.

I still want to see that, and maybe you should uh make them do something like that as well before you okay this.

That's just an idea.

Because I I just don't you're you're trying trying to go national marketing, which is great, or bigger marketing.

And I I'm not really uh this is not as bad as a lot of the projects, but I do think you should do something uh like Jamaica Plains has.

I'd like to see that.

And and uh I I uh there is anyway.

I and I also think that Carolyn Hughes should be put on one of your staff so she can work for us full-time.

Okay, Mr.

Do you have any additional comments about the project?

Well, this project uh uh I did I think I got a ticket on Winder for parking too close to the there isn't uh that I think if I recall that's a route narrow street.

But for what they're trying to do, that's probably not a bad idea.

So thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is William M.

Davis.

William M.

Davis, you have one minute 30 seconds.

Uh good afternoon, can I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Okay, you know, in general, I like the concept and I like the idea.

I think we need to be pushing for more business incubators all over the city of Detroit.

And we need to make sure that if the city trade is assisting them in any way, that Detroit uh small businesses are possible startups should get preferential treatment.

You know, if if our dollars are helping to do this, uh you know that money should be going back to our community.

Far too often, it appears as if we are helping other communities flourish at our own community's uh detriment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Caller ending in 534.

You have one minute 30 seconds for public comment regarding the public hearing.

Yes, good morning, man.

Be heard.

Good morning, yes.

Yeah, well, I agree with um the last two callers and what member Santiago Romero said, we're gonna be giving all these public benefits, and they talk about this idea for helping startups.

And before you pass it, make sure there's a commitment that they're actually gonna do something like that, which is a lot in the lines of their mission, but you know, and if you have to send it back so they can go work out the agreement that it's there before you give it to them, uh, then that's what you should do.

I should think.

Um too many times I've seen the city council, you know, sign off and people go, well, yeah, we'll try.

Well, but you need to make it happen.

Like, you know, we got the financial troubles, we could have got money off the little Caesars Arena and stuff like that.

So I I like the idea.

I've suggested some kind of similar thing for a building in my neighborhood, but the land bank didn't want to hear it.

Um, but to focus on uh little people startups in the city.

Um and I think you are allowed to do that to maybe restrict it to Detroit residents because you are the ones giving them the tax break, but you might want to look into that legally on the uh market exception doctrine.

But um, yeah, I sounds like a good idea, but that what Gabby suggested and others make sure they sign up, agree to that, and it's in writing before you give them the deal.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Ms.

Marguerite Maddox Scarlet, you have one you have uh yes, yes.

You have the floor.

Good morning, Ms.

Maddie.

Good morning, good morning.

Um you guys uh under uh under the ADA room, and this should be done because those two and make sure that the BMW it's not enough.

And I like the idea of the static and nice being able to end.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That now concludes our public comment period.

Uh, and now to the team.

Any responses.

I have one response.

Um, Miss Hughes requested information about the how much the taxes would be without the incentive.

Well, with the incentives, um, it will be six thousand nine hundred and five dollars with the certificate and forty thousand seven hundred and eighty-four without.

Thank you.

And I can share that the project is uh it's cash flow positive in the first year, um, according to the model.

So I think there was a question about that.

I just want to share that.

And then I think I can turn it over to the development team for some of the other questions.

And I think cash flow positive, but marginally so not it's not a uh breadwinning project, it's meant to be for the businesses.

Um and I think when it comes to uh tax abatement timing and six versus twelve, all of this fun the function of the tax abatement when you have taxes on a building, it tends to flow through to the rental rate.

And so the more expensive it is, the more uh you have to rent for to be able to pay um your bills.

And so I think the the benefit is we're doing, you know, the intention of the facility is to do good things for the city by that by building businesses and creating jobs, and so um, and not to mention that those jobs pay income taxes in the city.

So if there are new new people paying, you know, two and a half percent or what are 2.4% on their income taxes that work in the city or move from Ham Tramic to work in the city, um, or move from outside to work in the city or move from within the city, it's all affecting uh Detroit uh taxes in a positive way, even at the expense of the um property tax.

Um and so a longer tax abatement enables us to keep rents lower for longer.

Um I wasn't sure on the question about the Jamaica Plains labels.

If there were some I I didn't hear the exact question in that, um, but you know, from a standpoint of pride, you know, when things are crafted in Eastern Market, we want to make, you know, we'll try to make sure they're labeled made in Detroit and crafted in Eastern Market.

Um, as far as Detroit small businesses, these are all Detroit-based businesses.

Um that's actually our mission and what we're investing in, or companies that are based in Detroit.

In some cases, they may move to Detroit, like the Hamtremic move, but um, in other cases they were founded in Detroit.

And um if you look at the um the investments that we've made as Brand Detroit, they've all been Detroit-based companies.

Um and then um, you know, I think there was a question about ADA, and I think the um from an ADA perspective, we're working with our architects to make sure there's full accessibility into all the retail shops and ramps into the production spaces and accessibility to the office spaces and um you know, and following all guidelines and regulations in there.

So um, so we're we're very cognizant of that.

Um as far as making certain commitments, I I don't I don't know exactly what commitments would need to be made.

I think the best commitment is track record in this case of the kinds of companies that we've invested in and the work we've done and you know creating jobs already in the city, and um I would say that the probably more the the challenge that the city has faced is lots of people talking big dreams but not actually executing on them.

And so that's why I've focused a lot on talking about how much we've executed on in the city to date thank you.

Um can you I I did write down a couple of additional questions from Ms.

Maddox.

Um I'm not sure if you indicated um whether or not there would be automated doors and if uh well I'm not sure if you have the plans already identified or or developed, but if you can indicate the width of the doors as well, and I believe during your presentation, you may have noted how many um restrooms, public restrooms, but uh can you ensure that they are ADA compliant public restrooms?

Yeah, so there are two ADA compliant men male and female public restrooms.

Um the size and and grab bars and everything are meant um to be there.

I'm not sure yet about the automated doors.

We haven't uh we haven't gotten to that that detail yet.

Um I don't I I believe we were following regulation, but I don't know if the regulation required automated doors.

Um as far as widths, I can provide widths of doors.

Thank you for that.

And I will certainly ask that you include an automated door, especially to the entrance of the building.

Um, and I'm not sure how the layout is going to be.

So um making sure that everyone can access the retail spaces, especially those that have a public facing um space, uh, just ensuring that everyone has access to them.

All right, thank you.

Colleagues, any additional questions, comments, or concerns.

Hearing none, is there a motion on line item five?

Motion to approve.

There's a motion to send line item five to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Any objections?

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, colleagues.

That now brings us to oh that closes out the 1025 public hearing.

And now brings us to the back to the agenda and new business, beginning with line item 7.1.

Line item 7.1 is submitting resolution authorization for the historic designation advisory board staff, noting that they are honoring Black History Month.

Is there a so HDAB staff would like to inform the honorable Detroit City Council that in honor of Black History Month, they will be sharing posts related to Detroit's African American history on their social media pages throughout the month of February.

Is there a motion to receive and file or discuss?

Motion discuss.

Discussion.

Pro Tim Young.

Yes.

Oh, they're not here.

Oh, okay.

Oh no, no, wait, we do have someone.

See, I looked at somebody back there for that.

I wasn't sure if they were here to discuss this line.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Now I didn't say what you were saying.

I was I'll I'll bring them out for something they weren't originally here for.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you for indulging me anyway.

Uh ma'am chair.

Everyone here, good to see you.

Yes, I just wanted to ask you.

Uh really, thank you for doing.

I just wanted to ask you really quickly like what is this exactly entailed?

Is this it is this entail certain you know political figures like Irma Henderson or Colin Young?

Does this entail like in-depth background, like you know, um like uh Thornton and Lucy Blackburn who crossed the Detroit River and then the United States, these were uh escape slaves from Kentucky who uh crossed the uh who were arrested, they fought back against their uh enslaver.

When asking the law enforcement, they were the slave patrol they're trying to bring them back to Kentucky, and they escaped across the river and that and uh Canada refused to uh extradite them in that case uh kind of led to or influenced Canada as being the last stop for freedom and underground railroad.

Are we gonna be talking about those types of events at all?

Um I just gotta want to know what do these posts exactly consist of.

Yes, through the chair.

Thank you for the excellent question.

And um, I will start by saying we take requests.

So I'm good.

Okay.

Have any ideas?

Uh feel free to share them with us as you just did.

Um my name is Ian Tomashik.

I am a historic planner with the Historic Designation Advisory Board.

I'm also uh co-operator of our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Um, you know, as uh your honorable body's primary department for historic research.

We are always trying to uncover stories about the city's African American history.

Um the uh especially during Black History Month, we like to share some of those stories to our social media pages.

Um a couple of the posts we've shared so far honor an article that our director Janice Chapman um wrote back in 1999, emphasizing the importance of honoring black history and historic preservation efforts.

Um just today we posted a clipping from a um a brochure honoring the 80th birthday of Paul Robeson, the uh uh noted vocalist athlete um and his some of his connections to Detroit.

Um so the stories we plan to share are are just a uh scattering of um you know stories about notable African American Detroiters who uh we you know may not have posted about before.

And as I said, we do take requests if you have a certain area or um topic of interest you'd like us to investigate.

No, I I I I I just think that's absolutely I was you want to say something, Director Jack.

Thank you.

Um, through the chair if I may, just to kind of um piggyback on what um um we just heard I would like to say that basically we're we're also looking to unearth those lost narratives that people are not aware of, so they may not, you know.

So they may not, you know, you you you you know the story, some you know I will say this, you know the story, or most people know of the story of of Sediran Truth or Harriet Tubman, but what they don't know are those other lost narratives that are kind of interwoven and embedded into the the built environment because that's basically what we do.

We're looking at historic preservation through its um buildings, um its sites, um a sense of place.

So we try to ensure to make sure that we're telling the complete story of the city of Detroit through those narratives of people who may not have been the architects of those buildings, but whose DNA nevertheless are an important and integral part of these buildings and these places.

Um they may have been um the activities that took place there, the fact that there was their great other grandparents or great grandpas who helped to build those buildings who were part of the construction team that built those buildings, but yet you don't hear about those stories.

So it really is to unearth those lost narratives.

Tell a complete story of Detroit's built environment and how it is interwoven into the the larger or the complete history of the city of Detroit, and that's really what we're trying to do during not only African American History Month, but um every month here.

Thank you.

Yeah, I just wanted to say, I mean, I I know there was a fascinating story about uh Second Baptist Church and um in terms of uh Frederick Douglass going there to speak, and you know, William Lambert and uh Henry Bibb as well in terms of um runaway slave as well, and so I think that's real interesting.

I also want to know um does this also include you know Martin Luther King uh Junior, because you know his first I have a dream speech was given here.

Does that include Malcolm X's um message to the grassroots because that was done here?

I'm assuming you probably would talk about you know the nation of Islam and the you know as well, or as well as stuff that has nothing to do with buildings, but uh the fact that you know David Blackwell was the forefather of artificial intelligence is a black person, and so I was I'm assuming those type of things be caught up in this as well.

Through the chair if I might too to um pro Tim, absolutely, and I think that what we you know when you when you mentioned um um Martin Luther King and the fact that it's his aunt lived here and she had a home here, and it when he came to Detroit, that's who we visited.

Um you mentioned Malcolm X, Malcolm X and uh Martin Luther King both gave um speeches at at a building that we've designated here in the city of Detroit.

The Nation of Islam, the temple number one is designated under your local ordinance.

So we have looked at those things, and those are the kinds of stories that we want to tell and we will continue to tell um through this month.

Um if again, as Ian has put it out, you know, uh the staff he's you know, we're looking for those stories.

So if you have something that I would say those little known history facts, if you know of any, please just reach out to us and let us know.

Reach out to our office 224, um 224-3487, um 313, and as for Ian, um he will um or myself or Janet, we will be more than happy to um to assist you and to make sure that those stories are told.

But they will be not only told during African American history month, but throughout the years, I say thank you.

Oh, okay, good.

No, I appreciate it.

Is it like a time limit for like just African American history, like it's too late?

It's closed.

You gotta be quicker than that.

Uh I I also just wanted to say, and then I'm wrapping up, but I also just wanted to say um I think it's good that you talk about the stories that people don't cover because as we all know, uh this is the home of Rosa Parks, and the great things that she did, you know, she sat down, so Uber stand stood up.

I don't think people understand the story of Claude Eckoven, who also was somebody that refused to give her seat as well, but was not necessarily as well known that that prior to Rosa Parks, it inspired that whole thing.

So I think the fact you're kind of delving into all that history is really good to know.

So that's all I have to say.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am chair.

I'm done.

Thank you.

And while you all are here, would you like to share your social media handle so that people can follow you?

Yes, of course, through the chair on Instagram.

We are at Detroit underscore HDAB.

That's H D A B.

And on Facebook, simply search historic designation advisory board.

Um, we should pop up, I believe for the only account with that title.

All right, excellent.

And uh I'd like to remind you guys, my name is Ian Tomashek, and and like I said, I I co-run our social media page.

So if you have any thoughts or ideas of uh things you'd like to see us uh research, please let us know.

Well do thank you so much.

All right, colleagues, is there a motion to receive and file line item 7.1?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

The chair, if I may, I I I would be remiss.

We did bring extra copies of that article if you uh for your for your honorable body.

So I don't know who we give them to, but we do have them ready.

Excellent, thank you.

Thank you.

And line item 7.2 is submitting report relative to scheduling a secondary street sign discussion for the upcoming 2026 secondary street sign cycle.

Colleagues, is there a motion to discuss?

Thank you.

Um good afternoon.

So I know we've we've had a brief discussion uh last year when we um went through the process of voting on the secondary street signs.

Um and I know after that there were there are some recommendations that are being made.

Um I know we are slated to identify a date to have a full discussion, but please feel free share with us um what you'd like to share at this point relative to the process.

Okay.

Good morning.

I'm Janice Tillman, Historic Designation Advisory Board, um historic planner.

Um we're seeking the guidance of your honorable body on ways to address the increasing number of secondary street signs.

Each year there's more applications than there are slots.

Um we've identified two main reasons.

There's several reasons maybe, but two main reasons.

The first one is the limited number of honorees that are selected every year per city charter.

Um, the max is five.

Um, and the second reason we think is an issue is the rollover years.

Um the rollover years guarantees everyone who apply at least five years in the process.

And the increasing number of applicants increased the number of rollover years, and it has dramatically increased over the last few years.

In 2023, there were only three rollover applicants.

This year, 2026, we have 18.

Um, with no new applicants coming in if we decide not to take any new applicant, it would take four years to deal with the 18 rollover applicants.

So we need to find ways to reduce the number of applications.

Um we will have to amend the ordinance.

So we're suggesting that maybe reduce the number of rollover years, reduce the number of applicants that can be accepted each year.

Um I know that's a hard thing to do.

Um, and also require that a petition signature is part of the process.

What I found is a lot of the agencies and petitioners do not want to do the signature petition.

They'll rather just come to council and have counsel do a sponsorship.

So we think those three combinations together will reduce the numbers.

It's not gonna solve the problem because we still have 18 rollovers this year.

So those are some of the suggestions.

Some other suggestions is um maybe have council sponsored applications where each council member sponsors a person, that way we would only have nine applicants and four rollovers each year.

That's a possibility.

Um, another possibility is maybe using a strategy where you focus on one area, um, music, art, education, and that year you take 10 applications, but with that you have no rollover because the next year it'd be a different focus.

And the final one, which is probably the most radical, is to use the CBDG process review, um, structured a review where it's a process of elimination for the application, and we only have those five that could move forward as possible.

Suggest these are just suggestions.

We are here to seek your guidance in order to find ways to eliminate the increasing number of applications.

Well, thank thank you for that.

We appreciate the suggestions.

I know we've been here um trying to figure out how do we address this.

One of the things I've always been interested in is making sure that we also identify um perhaps people that aren't so well known that have worked within the greater downtown, midtown, or Corktown areas, but people that are um doing amazing work in our neighborhoods and our communities, and because they are less known, they are less likely to get support for a secondary street sign because it becomes a highly politicized um exercise that we go through.

Um and so I I think it's important for us to make sure we have secondary street signs throughout the entire city.

Most of them now are in those greater downtown, midtown areas, um, which I think is is just a travesty, quite honestly.

Um of the other things that I was thinking about was um perhaps not if an application rolls over someone has to request the rollover that it doesn't automatically happen because there are people that are on that rollover list that I believe wouldn't be interested in submitting an application again.

Perhaps the fee is waived for a certain number of years, so they don't have to be concerned about the fee, but that was one of my thoughts that I had as well.

Colleagues, any questions, comments?

Pro Tim Young.

Sponsorships are required for teachers for all the applicants.

So through the chair, um, the the last question I can answer a lot quicker.

Last year, 10 of the applications were council sponsored.

So that would reduce 10 from last year if that was the case.

So I think if you move council sponsorship, it will reduce some of the numbers.

Um were not deceased more than five years.

So they had to be sponsored, or they were alive.

They were living candidates.

Okay.

So if you remove that, then you will have less applicants.

And then by the do we have a uh who was a sponsor of each request of the list.

Of each request on the list that we received.

Oh, I can submit that to you.

I can give the I appreciate that.

Okay.

That's what I'm done.

Thank you.

Um now to pro Tim Young's point or to to what was just mentioned, the person that I sponsor was a hundred years old who just happened to have outlived many of us.

Um and so I I feel some kind of way about um them having to have been deceased for five years because of that.

Well, to that point, madam chair.

When I was researching other states, um, they actually had you can put a living candidate, but they had to be 70 or 75.

So he would actually be considered.

Um, although with our exceptions, Mr.

Starks is still considered because of the exception.

But in other states, you have to be at least 75 years old if you're living it, 70 to 75 to be a living candidate.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Any additional questions, comments.

Um, I did I did just want to ask the timeline because if we decide to continue moving forward this year and accepting applications, share with us the deadline for applications to be submitted so that we have a sense of when we need to have the discussion and really start to make decisions on how to move forward.

Well, I would suggest um, Madam Chair, that we have discussion as soon as possible, only because we don't have any completed application as of today.

Um the application deadline is from January 1st to June 30th.

Um we have nine inquiries, and I have three that's very close.

Um they've submitted everything, they just need council sponsorship, and they haven't confirmed that.

Um so three applicants have submitted everything that they could submit at this point.

So as soon as possible to have the discussion, and June 30th is the deadline to submit.

Okay, thank you.

No, so the total number could be combined.

Oh, it'll be 27.

If all nine get the information in, we'll have 27 applicants as of June 30th.

And five June.

We have 27 as of today, if they all submit, and we're and people are still submitting.

So our our our I'm sorry, through the chair if I may, and just to kind of uh piggyback on what Janice is saying, what we are anticipating because the the popularity and the notoriety of non-secondary street signs or honorary street signs as they are um known throughout in other parts of the country, the um the numbers have increased, and the number of people who would like to who are requesting honorary or secondary street signs hasn't uh has been increasing every year.

So as of today, that's what she has just nine new applicants plus the um roll over 18 18 rollovers, and this is just February, is what I'm saying.

And we do as if you recall last year, it was really towards the end of the uh or the deadline that we got that we were inundated with quite a few.

So um that is something that we would we want to not happen again if we edit if we can you know kind of stop it or kind of say to people and let the let the um citizens in the city of Detroit know that this is how we're moving forward.

Um you know, and from from now on, it would be really helpful because I think it would allow them to think about how they want to move forward with even requesting um or submitting a petition for a secondary street sign.

Okay, thank you.

Um and I know budget season is approaching.

Um so I'll I'll connect with my team and see if we can get the discussion expedited so that we can have some thought and um begin working on any amendments to the ordinance.

Okay, if I may finally um uh madam chair, as that we will be uh reaching out to each and every council member to see if they have any suggestions for possible um changes to the ordinance as we move forward.

Um I know there's things that you guys are kind of synchrosync and saying no, we really want to keep that in there, and so we don't want to uh suggest or even recommend things that the majority of the council saying no, we want that in there.

So we're trying to figure out how to do that as best we can.

So we will be submitting or sending out um emails to each and every council member asking them to um please and you know their team to get together and let us know um you know how they feel and any considerations or comments um that they may have as we move forward with with this um great program.

Thank you, madam chair.

Sounds great.

Thank you.

Thank you for all the work you all are doing, have done uh relative to this, and um really trying to help us to streamline things and recognizing Detroiters or those who have made a significant impact in the city of Detroit.

We appreciate it.

Thank you.

Colleagues, is there a motion to receive and file the report noting that a discussion will be scheduled as soon as we are able?

Oh, sir.

There's a motion to receive and file line item 7.2.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 7.3 submitting report relative to district six tax abatements during 2022 through 2025.

Is there a motion to discuss?

Motion.

Discussion.

Member Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Uh we have received this information, so we feel comfortable receiving and filing.

Um, like comments that were made, we're trying to get a handle of where these abatements are happening.

Want to make sure that we're bringing them more into our neighborhoods.

Um, but we receive the information.

Um, and thank you to DGC for reformatting it for us so that we're able to um work with it a little bit more.

Uh so happy to receive and file, madam chair.

Is a motion to receive and file line item 7.3.

Discussion.

Discussion, pro Tim Young.

Um to whom this question may concern.

But uh, I just want to know when we're doing these analyses of um these task grants.

I just want to know is there also like a comparison between what the impact of these have in terms of reducing vacancy in these areas and also in terms of population growth.

I'm not saying it has to be for this report, but I'm just saying in the future.

Uh I definitely I definitely think that would be something that I would like to know just so we can have an understanding of what this is positive or negative.

I'm not trying to sway it one way or the other.

I would just like to know just for my own um thought process.

That's why I could talk to my constituents about as well.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Any objection to receiving and filing line item 7.3.

Hearing none, that action shall be taken.

Line item 7.4.

Councilmember Letitia Johnson submit a memorandum requesting that the city planning commission look into options to down zone 106 31 Whittier, aka Cover Girls Strip Club.

There is a request to bring this back in three weeks.

Um is there a motion to refer this line item to the city planning commission and bring back in three weeks?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

And line item 7.5, Councilmember Letitia Johnson submitting memorandum requesting report on the community outreach ordinance.

Is there a motion to refer line item 7.5 to LPD and bring back in two weeks?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

That brings us to member reports.

Vice Chair Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I just want to invite District 6 residents uh to join us tonight for our deed fraud conversation with member waters.

We are going to be at Community Rec Center from 4 to 6 p.m.

Uh, please do come and join us.

Uh we are also going to have our monthly February meeting in person this Saturday from 11 to 1 p.m.

We'll have lunch.

Uh, please come and join us then as well.

We are going to have conversations around foreclosure prevention and also know your rights.

Um and for some fun next week, Wednesday, we are going to have our annual skate nights.

And for some fun, next week, Wednesday, we are going to have our annual skate nights.

Thank you.

Pro Tim Young.

Negative report.

Thank you.

And I just have a few things.

One, if Ms.

Varner is still listening, just to let you know the discussion with DWSD and the Lifeline program is being scheduled.

Someone from the administration will, if they have not already reached out to you to address your questions.

I'm not sure if it's taking place in BFA because the question was brought up then, or if it's taking place in public health and safety.

But certainly stay tuned for that.

I also just want to remind everyone that the assessor review process, the deadline to apply for an appeal is February 22nd, which is this Sunday, Sunday at 4 30 p.m.

If you believe your property is overassessed, and would like for the assessor to review that.gov.

Again, ask the assessor at Detroit MI.gov.

You can also call the office at 313 224 3035.

Of course, you do not, you are not required to go through an assessor review if you would like to go before the board of review to appeal your assessment there.

That process, the deadline to file a petition for the board of review is March 9th.

Again, that is March 9th.

If you'd like additional information or specific information, feel free to reach out to our office.

I'm sure any of my colleagues can share this information with you.

Our office number is 313-224-4841.

Again, 313-224-4841.

And then I'd just like to share that on next Tuesday, February 24th.

So Member Waters is going throughout the entire city, making sure residents in the city are aware of fraudulent deeds that are filed, how it happens, what you can do about it, how you can hopefully prevent it from happening for your property.

But ours in District 4 is taking place again Tuesday, February 24th from 4 p.m.

until 6 p.m.

at the Samaritan Center, located at 5555 Connor.

And that concludes my member report.

If there is nothing else to come before this committee, we shall stand adjourned.