For Gabriela Santiago Romero.

Member Santiago Romero did indicate she would not be present.

Circle still no council president pro temporary common young the second.

Mr.

Mr.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Madam Chair, you have a quorum present.

Thank you.

Having a quorum present, we are now in session.

And good morning, everyone.

Pro Tim.

Is there a motion on the minutes?

Motion.

There's a motion to approve the minutes.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

We are going to move into our general public comment.

If there is anyone joining us who'd like to make a public comment and have not already provided me with your name, please raise your hand.

Whether joining us in person or virtually, please raise your hand.

We'll be cut off at 10.

10.

How many callers do we have virtually with their hand raised currently?

Mr.

Madam Chair, we currently have eight hands raised for public comment.

Okay, we'll give every everyone two minutes.

And we'll first start with the call the individuals that are here in the committee of the whole.

And I have Terry Mellon.

Followed by Loretta Rogers and then Miss Gail Beasley.

The three of you can I'm not sure.

Seats that we're utilizing for public comment in person.

All right, the clock is set for two minutes, and when you are ready, you may begin.

Yes.

Ready?

Yes.

Yes, uh, I was commenting on um the work that they're doing in front of our house, and the dirt is contaminated, and it's got it in my system.

I have arsenic in my system, and they continue to work over there and dirt floating everywhere, and it's not getting any better.

Slow it down or stop it, and you know, just they not thinking about the community, they just think about building something there, and I was wondering if something could be done about it.

Does that conclude your comment?

Yes, okay.

Thank you so much.

And we're checking to see if the Great Lakes Water Authority will be here, but I am joting down your comments.

Miss Loretta Rogers.

Um just wanting the council to take a closer look of uh the uh construction they're doing at Freud, uh the water, um the uh the DSW.

I don't know who has control over that digging over there, but just asking that they uh do a little bit more investigation of the toxic that's going into the air for the people that live in our area.

Thank you.

Yeah, good morning, council.

Morning, good morning.

Uh I represent the 400 block of Lakewood and all the presidents from the river, all the way across Jefferson.

And um a lot of them couldn't be here.

So my uh comment about this whole thing, it's just like flint, but it's dirt, but it's dirt instead now, and people are getting sick, our animals are getting sick.

Some of the dogs have been people are coming to me because people come to me, they're foaming at the mouth, their eyes are red, the cat won't drink the water, dogs.

It's a lot going on, and we want the council to fight for us.

I wish more were here and represent us.

That's what you're here to do.

And that's your job.

And we're expecting that from our council to get on this because they don't even have the license.

We just found out we thought, well, they've been approved.

Uh every everything is safe, but it's not.

And so we're very concerned.

And we want you all to fight for us.

And that's your job.

Otherwise, you're all gonna be fired because you won't have a political career in this city if uh we're dying from this stuff because it's toxic and it's contamination.

And that's my concern.

I have my children to move in back in the neighborhood.

My son bought a house across the street from me, and he's happy to be there.

He couldn't be here, he got to go to work.

But we got family coming in to visit from out of town for reunions.

We got good things going on in our community.

We're a good community, and we need you all to fight stop that project because they didn't even come and do any kind of community engagement with us or ask us anything.

And I think that's awful.

And you all need to get on your job and do it.

Otherwise, y'all know the consequences.

Do your job.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We have next Miss Vanessa Cartwright, followed, followed by Lawan Council.

Good morning.

Morning.

Again, I want to speak about environmental justice.

Every since that plant was there, they started the plant.

But I wanted to find out if it was safe for us.

So I went to a lot of platforms, forums.

I even went to uh Green Door uh Academy to find out if it's safe.

And I found out that it's not safe for us to be around that.

I'm getting okay.

I'm done.

I'm done.

I'm sorry.

Take your time.

You're good.

Okay.

It's hard being strong when I feel like we are being harmed.

And just like we said, when I took him to the doctor, going to those flat platforms showed me that I needed to find out if we were okay.

I had him tested.

He got tested for the arsenic.

I let everybody know.

Uh Paul from Gleva, our council representative, and no one said anything, even the mayor's office.

And I felt offended because I felt like I didn't say anything, like no one is saving us.

You know, when we we're saying that something is going on.

The doctors stated that the whole community really needed to get tested.

Now, when I took him last week, the doctor said to us, Oh, so they stopped.

And I looked at him, I said, Why you how you know that?

And he said, Because the levels are going down.

So I'm I'm frightened.

I don't want it to be like Southwest Detroit.

They took us on the tour to Slook Island, whatever it was.

I was petrified.

I had to go to sleep to sleep that off.

They're killing all those people.

Thank you, Miss Current.

Thank you.

Miss Lawan Council.

Good morning.

Morning.

I am Lawrence Council.

I am the founder and director of the Detroit Area Disaster Recovery Group with my neighbors for the last five years.

We have been fighting environmental harms, groundwater flooding, sewer backup, toxic mold.

And last year, Miss Cartwright called me and said, I need you to come and help me fight.

Terry has been tested positive for arsenic.

We had no idea where the where it came from.

And since I've had meetings with the EPA and Michigan State and Wayne State and toxicologists, and every time someone sees his toxicology report, the look on their faces and the doom in their faces lets me know that this is an issue that would have brought me for the first time to do public comment in person at any city council hearing meeting.

We are asking that you not advance their requests out of to out of this committee until we have an opportunity to inform all of our community and also tell them where to get tested and how to get tested.

I think that this is a different addition to this subject.

We have been fighting this subject for the last few years, but with Terry's arsenic test, his positive test results, it should give us enough leverage to slow this down a bit until we can figure out what's happening in our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And before we proceed, I'd like to call the 1015 public hearing to order and recess it to the call of the chair.

And who did we have any additional hands that were raised in person?

Mr.

Foster.

Good morning, uh, through the chair.

Just a few things in light of the assistance that's down here.

I would ask you all to send um whatever project it is back up to the community.

They have plenty of fun, and they should be able to compel this community to see things their way.

If they can't, then don't move the process forward.

Secondly, as a combat veteran, you know, who have suffered from a lot of um airborne pathogens, water issues, and everything else.

I can testify today that these things will not be present currently.

You start to see the effects of them in generations, 10, 20, 30 years from now.

And so you all have to start to put a comprehensive plan together to address these things and mitigate them right now, not just these folks, but their children and grandchildren.

Right.

Oh man, so I think that's uh very important.

Secondly, I just want to come down here as a man.

I watch these videos.

I see Mr.

Coma Young and other council members make gestures on videos, trying to be condescending and everything else.

They won't sit down at a table to talk to a man as a man, but they will try a little covert measures.

So as a man, I would just say that uh I always look forward to looking like my father, wearing a mustache and a beard.

I never wanted to grow up and look like my mother, right?

And so I think that's important as well to show a lot of character and direction and where we're going.

I'm always willing to sit down at the table with you as a man, hear your voice, express your vision, your views, or anything else, right?

You haven't offered that or a lot of that.

So I'm gonna continue to come down and speak about these things.

There's a lot of other issues in our community that needs to be addressed and redressed.

I won't be silent.

I won't be in nowhere, I won't be coerced.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And before we proceed to our virtual callers to uh the media services team, are you all uh getting information that there is a lot of feedback on Zoom?

Okay.

The message I received was Zoom.

So let's attempt to go to our first virtual caller and see if we can identify whether or not they have been able to hear us.

Ms.

Great, who do we have first?

Our first caller is beat out mobility access ambassador Cunningham.

Mr.

Cunningham, good morning.

You have two minutes for general public comment.

Oh, good morning.

Your phone is breaking up.

Mr.

Cunningham, are you there?

Are you there?

Ms.

Gray, let's come back to Mr.

Cunningham.

Our next caller is Betty A.

Varner.

Betty A.

Verner, you have two minutes for general public comment.

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

I'm Betty A.

Barner, president of the Soda Elsewhere Black Association.

Here again, just sharing information that can uh bless uh families and individuals.

Uh there's a gifted hands, community health, hair cut program.

And these services are provided by uh D's Corner Unisex Salon located at 1830 Plymouth Road.

That's in Detroit, 48228.

The telephone number to call for appointments and questions is one three one three two two eight six three two zero.

Again, one three one three two two eight six three two zero.

Uh on Sundays, they have the youth program from age two to thirteen from twelve to four for free haircuts.

They're calling it free Sundays.

Uh for the seniors, uh age 62 and up.

It's free Tuesdays from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

Then on Wednesdays, they have a veterans program from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

And you must have valid ID, and it's 50% off all day.

And again, that's at D's Corner Unisex uh Salon 1830 Plymouth Road, Detroit 4828, telephone number 1313 228 6320.

Call for appointments or questions.

Thank you for that.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Legendary Detroit are you have two minutes for general public comment.

You hear me clearly.

Good morning.

As of uh we're as the district two representative.

Now she's cheated in Letitia Johnson.

Now I didn't took the necessary measures.

The alumni Notties, 2030 year plan, which we are in 26, 25 years of to turn Detroit in majority black city on the international border is running roadblock.

That's now I done told you Kanisha did not.

The police department.

Rebecca McKay is lying.

There is no evidence of a suicide because it there was not a suicide committed.

She was murdered for 4700 unemployment insurance money.

And Letitia, you've been sitting up there while they've been playing with my name, but stripped my house over there on Spring Garden.

And you ain't done nothing.

And Gary, your chief of staff has been non-responsive to me.

And y'all been playing games.

So it's up.

I'm a different kind of dude, Letitia.

You're about to find that out.

You gotta get removed.

Oh, y'all gotta go.

Y'all gotta get the app on.

I'm sick of y'all taking the kids' money, building tall, shiny buildings and stuff they can't afford and enjoy.

Taking my mama's and other taxpayers' money, and your million dollar expense budget.

We need to check into everything you doing, Letitia, because now Black is on a case.

You know what that means, right?

Thank you.

And Mr.

Crowley, the property that you're referring to is not in your name.

Um, and as a result, you are not able to file a complaint about that property and some items that were, as you indicate, removed from the property.

And just so you know, Gary Gray has retired.

He has retired.

Uh George Adams is my chief of staff, and I believe you've already spoken to him.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Michelle Jackson.

Michelle Jackson, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning.

My name is Michelle Jackson.

I am a Chela Park resident, but I grew up in the Jefferson Charmer neighborhood.

I did actually sit in a couple of meetings with Glea concerning your proposal on them to engage the community.

The information that they engage us with is not what the building is in turn supposed to be now.

And so I just urge you to halt and not move this before council until the community has enough information and enough insurance to move forward with a project as such.

So I am a resident of the city of Detroit, and I stand with the folks in Justin Chalmers area.

I grew up on Chalmers, and I am appalled that the information is not being given to the residents as such.

And I yield my time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Eric DeWicke, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning, uh Pro Tem Young and Member Johnson.

My name is Eric DeWicke.

I'm a 36-year resident, as you might know, of the Morningside neighborhood.

I'm here to speak in support of item 8.13, the rezoning for the proposed pump station.

In 2021, myself and over a 1,000 other morningside residents experienced significant basement backups due to the extreme rainfall events.

Many other neighbors in East English Village, Cornerstone, and Chandler Park were also affected.

And although Gliwa does a terrible job at communicating with Detroit residents, this solution will bring a positive outcome for thousands of east side residents in districts three and four.

Sometimes citizens in our democracy must uh make some sacrifices.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Cecily McClellan, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Yes, Cecily McClellan.

We, the people of Detroit.

And I just like to make a brief comment on a few things.

But one on the pumping station uh that would be on fruit.

Uh I don't believe that uh Gliwa has uh provided substantial community benefits for that particular area.

And many of the actions in terms of building that new pumping station were started before most of the residents in that area were very much aware that um a new pumping station was being built.

But I think it also needs to be very clear um uh in terms of the city who uh will control and own this pumping station in the event uh that this uh agreement is renegotiated, and we strongly encourage that the Glewa uh agreement be renegotiated.

We don't believe that is sufficient funding for the city of Detroit to receive a measly really 33 million, but with uh the city paying uh residents paying 17 million uh for a lease agreement of a multi-billion dollar uh water system uh that needs to be renegotiated, and as I mentioned before, uh you can look at the Haas Institute um uh survey that talks about the equity and water security and how that agreement was uh not fairly uh negotiated.

Additionally, I'd like you all to focus on the fact that there is not sufficient funding for the uh water affordability program or the water assessment program, and that GLEWA should increase the amount that they provide to the city of Detroit for low-income and fixed income residents in terms of award affordability.

Currently, the H2O program is uh closed because it's at full capacity.

We need to have a standard program that is guaranteed for low income and fixed income residents throughout the full year.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Blackbag, Mr.

Crowley.

You've already spoken.

Let's go to the next caller.

Our next caller is Owner Papa.

You have two minutes for general public comment.

Uh good morning, and through the chairman I be heard.

Good morning, yes.

You heard some heart-wrenching stories this morning about how the people in the city of Detroit, it majority black people are being mistreated by this administration, the previous administration, and this body.

We I have asked, we have asked you to find resolution to the dirty dirt situation that's in the city.

It's already deemed to be a crisis by the state and the federal government.

This dirt is not to be around people.

I don't know who you think we are.

We are human beings.

We need to be treated as such.

Mr.

Foster has come down and he has given some great um suggestions for this body, but you don't seem to take the suggestions that the people give you.

I'm not sure where you are, but that lady is exactly right.

We're gonna we're gonna get rid of you.

We're not going to maintain, you're not gonna maintain the status quo continually while you are hurting the people in the city of Detroit.

We don't deserve this.

8.2 on your agenda and um 8.3 on your agenda is about pilot programs.

I have asked this body to show me, show the people how these pilot programs have increased low-income housing.

Now you want to transfer it over to someone else.

8.2 and 8.3 should not be taken up today.

It should not be taken up until we have a clear understanding of how pilot programs are helping the average citizen in the city of Detroit.

Otherwise, what you're setting up is an apartheid situation.

People coming into the city of Detroit, I pay 84 meals and they pay 20 meals.

How is that fair?

And you're gonna, and now you now you want 71 of them for each little unit that they build.

These people come into this city, they take opera money, they take Oprah money, they take all of our funds, and then you give them low taxes.

Please stop.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Gwendolyn Howard.

Gwendolyn Howard, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Good morning, may I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Um first of all, I um ditto everything that uh Mama Cecily said concerning um the lifeline H2O program ending for our residents or at full capacity, and that we need to have uh some more funding so that the other 30,000 that were that are still in need um get some kind of relief.

Um, as the seasons change and and the and the shutoffs start coming, because you don't think your pipes will be frozen.

We need to have some kind of outlet or something for our customers to um apply to or GLEWA needs to fund the water affordability program.

We need to get funds from these already existing programs, but we have lots of money going different places, and you're saying you can't use ratepayers' money or something like that for this, but who are the ratepayers, the customers that um try to pay their bills?

But if you get a bill that they can pay, they probably will pay.

So we're still seeking um support on our water affordability bills that are in the representative um bill four HR 4555, as well as 5072 to 50 507 one to 5073.

So I'm um standing with the residents in the um charmers area to hope that you don't move this to uh move it from you out of committee just yet until we get some more information on how um GLIWA or that system is gonna engage with the customers.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is calling user one.

Call in user one.

You have two minutes for general public comment.

Can I be heard?

Yes.

Madam Johnson, do you know that we could not hear several of your callers because it seems to be like muffled and reacting back?

So I hope that you will allow the people to be able to say what they needed because we wasn't able to hear.

Madam Johnson, I need your help in making sure that I get answers to my question.

When did it become a policy in the city of Detroit when you complain to City Council that you all allow building and safety to put our lives in danger for complaining and showing pictures, videos, and audio of inhabitable living uh situations, no matter what district it is, is my first question, Madam Johnson.

A next thing, Madam Johnson, I'm noticing when complaining about the bus terminal that's at the Grand River Myers, the glass that has not been replaced since September, I'm brushed off and never given an answer, like what I've saying doesn't matter.

Can you also make sure that I get uh the next time a public meeting during the evening with city council?

I'm asking you to do it because you've been the only one that seemed to keep your word.

I appreciate your respect and your courteousness.

I'd like for you to get these answers.

Please make sure that you show me the month, day, and year under federal law and state law that it is acceptable for building and safety to put our lives in in jeopardy for complaining and allow landlords to retaliate for dare to complain when they keep unsafe inhabitable living conditions.

Can you please commit to getting me?

Thank you, Ms.

Shay.

Um, yes, I will follow up with you in regards to B seed and the DI bus terminal.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Sahira Ahmad.

Sahira Ahmad, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Yes, good morning, councils.

Good morning to you all.

I want to uh diddle with uh Miss Gwendolyn said.

I also stand with we, the people of Detroit, and I wanted to give my testimony.

I was poisoned as a little girl.

Um I remember we wouldn't be able to leave our windows open or open our windows in the summertime.

I'm sure it was for two years because of a paint factory near us.

And today I suffer from MS, which is uh which is a neurological uh disorder um caused by contamination.

So what I would like to ask is uh this is too late for me, but for others, we want to protect the people, the children.

Uh we know some people, which is heart wrenching, have been diagnosed with uh arsenic poisoning.

I would like for uh for you to uh have a study.

Do not uh um okay any contracts when you don't know what uh environmentally it entails.

Do a study, don't just give these people contracts.

Also for uh these um people who are doing um uh um making uh uh apartments and so-called affordable, put a uh rent restriction um rent restriction on there so that they uh the rent will stay the same for 10 years.

Don't let them be able to get the low uh rent uh affordability, so to speak, and then get our tax money for abatements and then raise the rent every year on them.

That's the way that they're gentrifying Detroit.

So uh make it so that they cannot raise the rent for 10 years uh and uh put some stipulations in there, make it a law or ordinance and um take care of the peoples.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Cindy Dara.

Cindy Dora, you have two minutes for general public comment.

Now uh I read the building trades last night, and they're redoing Scott Fountain, and I want you to go check on this right away because what I read, I was shocked.

And I want you to go check on this right away because what I read, I was shocked.

I worked on Scott Fountain uh and got all the lights working where uh on the top ball, all everything worked, and then they didn't fence it in and got ripped off.

But even then, it needed marble people, and there was the um relative of the supervisor was gonna fix it, he couldn't do it.

You need to have people maybe from Europe that know how to work on stuff like that.

I I what I read was shocking.

They're carrying out brass fixed uh piping that goes to each one of the little spouts.

There's hundred, there's lots and lots of little gargles with water coming out, those are fed by brass.

Brass is a forever coppers pretty much like that.

Brass is even better.

They're carrying that out to put PVC.

PVC is not forever, it dries out and cracks.

Now we did put PVC when we re we uh did the bottom bowl where there's water.

That was better.

PBC and what underwater is better than and they should use Schedule 80, probably if they're gonna do PVC, because it's stronger and uh and it doesn't break down from the sun or anything.

But anyway, I've used both.

So anyway, I just wanted to tell you go out there.

The state is doing that, these different unions, they need to make sure that they know what they're doing and doing it right.

They're they're removing stuff that should maybe be just repaired.

I don't think uh that it I you better check on that.

That's a beautiful fountain that we don't want it ruined.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Madam Chair, our last caller is going back to DOT Mobility Access.

Ambassador Cunningham, um, noting there was one hand raised after you cut off public comment.

Thank you.

Mr.

Cunningham.

Good morning.

Are you there?

313 4449114, 313, 4449 114.

9114.

That number was made so you can remember it.

And I do not see a clock on my screen at all.

And I was told that it's a nightly meeting on the 9th.

I had a hunch and called LPD.

Um, I'm not getting the emails for that, and particularly the nightly meetings, and it should be more than a week's or maybe two-week notification of any nightly meeting so people can attend.

It's like you don't want folks to attend.

Also, um, I believe there's premium pay for new drivers that will do the swing shift.

If they work the night or the weekend, it should be a couple dollars more an hour, and we're in need of mechanics, mechanics, mechanics, mechanics, mechanics.

My outreach vehicle, which I do so much in, is ticking, and there's a lot of things that need to be done.

Councilwoman Johnson, I know you're busy, but if you could reach back out and let me know what happened with that organization, and any other assistance anyone can give, um, please reach out and continue to pray in the Holy Spirit of chant, do what you do.

Uh call by Name Mount Aberson, Brother Cunningham, and my mom, strong reliance at the rivers of Gross Point, disabled with multiple sclerosis.

Hallelujah.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Cunningham, I did reach out again to the organization that I had mentioned to you, and um I am going to share.

If you can just let me know which number to share with them, uh, they will give you a call directly about your vehicle.

All right, that now concludes our general public comment.

And I know there were a number of questions and concerns raised about the um dirt in the area near Fruit and Connor.

Um, and we are going to have the Great Lakes Water Authority talk more about um their project and the work that's happening there.

If you all have some information that you can provide to us, noting that there was there is a requirement for testing to be done before any work can happen.

We can get more details on where the testing was done.

But if you all have information that is contrary to what the Great Lakes Water Authority is providing, please share that information with us.

We'd love to take a closer look at it as we continue this conversation.

Pro Tim Young.

I mean, if you wanted to talk, all you had to do was call my number.

313-224-4248.

Far of my mother and my father's concern.

I want to be like both my father who passed away when I was very young.

I miss him.

I still miss him to this day.

And my mother, because my mother had to hold it down and she had to be mother and daddy.

And I also want to say happy father's day for everyone coming up.

As well as happy father's day to the mothers who had to be mother and daddy as my head to be.

Because my father died when I was 13.

Didn't see we go to prom, didn't see we graduate high school, didn't see me go to college, didn't see we get elected.

So this was a very long, very painful.

I was very young.

And asked me to carry the name when I was 13.

This was not something that I did myself.

This is something he called me and asked me to carry, literally right before he passed away.

So get a little bit emotional.

Think about it.

So uh this is so I so you know you have some issues, you know, just give me a call.

I'm not that hard to contact.

Uh I also just wanted to say uh to uh the clerk, thank you for putting up pro temporary on there, say pro temp.

Uh appreciate that.

And um to um the Madam uh chair, I just wanted to say uh I it breaks my heart that uh Gary Gray retired, but he will be missed.

That's the man the myth, the legend.

Uh Mr.

Adams is a great man.

I look forward to working with him.

I don't know why I didn't get the invite to retirement party.

I would have liked to come.

Uh hopefully you have some yellow light donuts with milk.

I really would have appreciated that.

Uh but other than that, I just wanted to say I wish him well.

He has earned it and he will truly be missed.

But uh look forward to work with Adams and you uh in the future.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Pro Tim.

And I'll make sure he rewinds the recording so he can hear that himself.

Um appreciate it.

All right, I would now like to call back to order the 1015 public hearing.

The 1015 public hearing is to amend chapter 50 of the 2019 Detroit City Code zoning, Article 17, zoning district maps, amending section 50-17-4, district map number three to revise the zoning classifications for the properties commonly known as 3604 Rosa Parks Boulevard and 3601-3617-3623, 3631, and 3639 Cochrane Cochrane Street from the existing PD plan development district zoning classification to a R3 low density residential district zoning classification to revise the zoning class classification for the property commonly known as 3761 West Grand River Avenue from the existing PD Plant Development District zoning classification to a SD2 Special Development District, miss mixed use zoning classification and to repeal any regulations for development of the existing PD zoning districts or portions thereof subject to such revisions.

And we have the City Planning Commission here.

Um I believe we may have Detroit Land Bank Authority representatives as well.

Please introduce yourself for the record.

Good morning, I'm Britney McGee with the Marketed Property Program.

Kelsey Massimary with the uh Marketing and Pre-development Pipeline at the Street Land Bank.

Good morning.

Who would like to begin?

And but before you begin, and I'm not sure if the the microphones can be turned up because I think that is what creates the feedback on Zoom, but Media Services, if you are able to adjust the microphones at the table so that at least the folks in the room can hear as well as those who are listening online.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And Madam Chair, I do have a presentation, however, I do need to be promoted to share my screen.

Okay, would you please raise your hand so that um Miss Greg can see you?

They have just promoted me.

And whomever is running Zoom, if you can change the viewing so that we don't see everyone's name at the top, that would be great.

If you can just pin perhaps the committee of the whole.

Thank you.

I just got permissions.

Good morning.

Thank you so much for your time.

Again, I'm Dolores Tralis Lara with the City Planning Commission staff.

This is for the presentation on the Core City area for the MLK and Cochrane Detroit Land Bank proposed rezoning.

The request is of the Detroit Land Bank Authority and the City Planning Commission to request the rezoning of the following properties.

And for 3761 West Grand River Avenue from a planned development to a special development district mixed use.

We are located in district six for the proposed rezoning.

And as a brief background on the proposed rezoning, the parcels reside within the former Selden Court rehabilitation project.

This was a project that was developed in the 1960s and 1970s redevelopment plan in the Core City neighborhood.

The Seldon Court PD was provisions were used to permit multifamily dwellings, open parking, and limited bulk businesses that were associated with the foregoing uses.

The proposed rezoning rezone, I'm sorry, the proposed Miss Perellis, Lara, do you mind uh pausing for a brief moment?

Thank you.

Sorry.

I can sorry.

Thank you.

Sorry about that.

Um the Seldon Court PD use provisions permitted multifamily uh dwellings, open parking and limited bulk businesses, um, and uses accessory to these foregoing uses uh such as you know convenience goods.

Uh the proposed rezoning encompasses the remaining parcels of the Selden Court project, which were not used during its original development, however, still are locked into the PD restrictions.

The uh Detroit land bank aims to pursue small-scale pedestrian and transit-oriented mixed-use development that is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.

If rezoned, the land bank plans to market the subject vacant parcels.

Uh the state planning commission is co-petitioning to include 3601 Cochrane, a parcel owned by Michael J.

Smith and Esperanza Cantu to ensure law consistency and correct the PD zoning that resides on their property.

This is currently a residential home.

The owners have indicated their full support over the provocate proposed rezoning of their home and have give her permission uh to do so.

The existing PD zoning restricts uses again to the original Seldon Court plan, which would not allow for the home or for any anticipated development to occur on these lots outside of what was allowed within this PD.

This is just a visual map of the proposed um rezoning areas, um 3761 uh Grand River being the proposed SD2 use, with the remaining parcels off of Rosa Parks and Cochrane being proposed for R3.

Uh regarding surrounding land use, to the north is a PD and B4, uh, which includes multifamily residential and developed commercial.

Uh to the east is PD, R2 and B4, which includes vacant residential, multifamily residential, and developed commercial.

To the south is R2 and B4, which is vacant residential or religious institution and developed commercial, and to the west is a PD and multifamily residential.

Regarding future land use, the proposed rezoning site is located in the Jeffries neighborhood and is designated as both retail center and low medium density residential for the subject block.

The planning and development department found the rezoning to be generally consistent with the master plan, noting a neutral impact on the surrounding neighborhood and transportation.

Regarding community outreach and feedback, um, the land bank did uh uh conduct outreach within the core city neighborhood.

Um outreach was conducted with the Grand River Block Club, which did provide one letter of support and is in favor of the proposed rezoning.

Uh CPC staff did reach out to Core City Strong, however, staff did not receive a response from this entity.

Regarding engagement, uh the land being conducted, flyers were distributed throughout the core city neighborhood near the rezoning site regarding the proposed rezoning.

CPC staff additionally contacted Woodbridge CEC to gather questions, concerns, or comments from the organization and nearby residents.

Woodbridge CDC did state that they had no direct comments on the project and remained neutral, noting they are just outside the boundary area.

Regarding general public feedback, we did receive one letter of support from the Ground River Block Club as mentioned, where they did cite the need for mixed use and mixed income development opportunities along this corridor.

At the CPC public hearing on January 15th, no individuals spoke in favor or opposition to the proposed rezoning.

Additionally, after the January 15th hearing, um CPC staff were able to get in contact with Micah J.

Smith and Esperanza Cantu regarding their home and the proposed rezoning, where they indicated their full support for their home and the rezoning of the area as a whole.

Regarding planning considerations and recommendations based on the zoning approval criteria of section 50-3-70 of the Detroit the 2019 Detroit City Code, CPCA recommends approval of the proposed rezoning.

And with that, I will pass it off to the land bank who has a presentation to conclude as well.

Thank you.

A little background about the site, which I know um Dolores had just mentioned.

Um the entirety of the site that we're looking to rezone is currently zone PD.

We are looking or we are seeking approval to rezone to SD2 and R3.

Um we provided postcard notice of this rezoning in October 2025, as well as um meeting with the Grand River Block Club in September of 2025 and received a letter of support.

Um, more recently on May 7th, 2026, we engaged with the Grand River Block Club again about a uh rezoning of the neighborhood in a broader aspect and got 15 letters of support for that effort.

Um intent is um with the West Grand River parcel.

We are already in process of doing environmental site assessment phase twos in conjunction with uh Eagle, and they these will be included in the site release when it goes to the market.

Um, as for the Rosa Parks and Conchrane parcels, we are planning to market those as well through our standard marketing program.

Um the exception of 3617 Concrene will be reviewed for side lot eligibility to the neighbors to the south of the property.

Thank you, Kelsey.

So we talked about marketing the properties.

The Detroit Land Bank has a market it property program where we essentially strategically promote and market uh properties where we communicate using third-party real estate brokers, third-party platforms such as the MLS, Zillow, and other platforms where people normally review real estate deals.

Uh the entire goal is to be able to formally vet buyers through a pretty uh stringent application process, and so we require prospective buyers to submit a proposal, we outline their scope of work, their proof of funds, project timelines, and then from there we do a competitive review based off of a criteria.

And so uh we require applicants uh no matter where they're from, developers, nonprofits, people from the community to be able to submit a pretty consistent proposal so that it includes the project proposal overviewing what they intend to do with the site, proof of funds that covers the development costs, pre-development costs, and the purchase price, and then scope of work in any previous experience.

And so we uh basically have them provide that in one package, and then we review that internally and with our city partners.

Uh, that evaluation kind of uh process includes us evaluating it off of the price, the feasibility of the project, making sure that it does align with zoning, uh, experience financing and any neighborhood benefit.

So they can provide any letter of supports from Dons or the community to support that proposal.

And so, as I did note, uh it is an all hands-on situation, and so we do review internally and then with our city partners, uh HRD, uh, PDD, and uh all the other city partners that we work with.

And then we kind of go over this enhanced marketing piece.

This is a little bit more uh of a bigger process.

The timelines are tighter and the submission deadlines are harder, and so that allows us to vet each developer, maybe more singular.

We do interviews.

Uh, this includes a committee with our city partners, all the other partners, HRD, PDD, planning department that I mentioned, and we all score based off of the same rubric, uh, but these interviews will allow the developer to expand on their project more and then expand the hands-on kind of overall review of the project as we rezone it.

And so that's kind of the overview of the marketed property program, and I do uh appreciate you guys' time today.

Thank you.

And with that, we would be open to questions.

Thank you so much for the presentation.

I do have a couple of questions.

Is there a direct link on the land bank's website where anyone can find marketed properties?

So there is on the Building Detroit website a marketed property page where there are marketed properties.

So that does include the land bank website, but also these are marketed on third-party websites.

So your Zillow, your Realtor.com.

So this is kind of an open space, open realtor, and open market listing.

So are all properties marketed on all of those platforms, or does it vary?

And so I was asking for a link for on the land banks website because everyone knows building Detroit.org.

Um, and if you can identify where the properties are on your site, then they can go click and get to Zillow Redfin or wherever.

Yeah, so there is a market at property page where people will be able to see properties that are in the market of property pipeline specifically.

And would you happen to know the link?

Uh I can provide it to uh counsel.

Okay.

All right.

And as it relates to this particular um rezoning, do you have anyone that has already uh submitted a proposal for this land?

Uh we reviewed our internal database of applications.

We do not have current applications, uh and this has not been marketed yet, so we haven't officially begun uh accepting applications for the site.

And I think on that piece, yeah, we have not received any applications at this time.

All right, thank you.

Pro Tim Young.

Yes.

Um thank you so much.

Excellent works.

Looks like a really good project.

I just wanted to ask, I don't know if this is to you or this is to DEGC if they're online, but have there been analysis in terms of property value increases and what that potentially can mean in terms of property tax reductions?

One of the reasons why we have the highest property tax in the country, uh, or the highest property tax residentially in the country, according to Lincoln Institute, is because our property values are so low.

And so has there been analysis in terms of what this project would do just in this area, and then overall, have we done analysis in terms of what the impact this would have on commercial corridors and the spin-off jobs that this would take in terms of this?

And do we have an analysis of tax revenue per acre?

That's a really great question.

Uh that's not one that I can answer here.

I think that's better suited for our partners at DGC and other partners who will review all proposals.

It may vary depending on what's submitted.

So I would direct that question to our other city partners at this time.

No, I no, I I I I appreciate that.

I I think this is a really good proposal.

We've been talking about um transit-oriented development for quite some time, and I think this is a really good thing.

Um Core City has had some issues from my understanding environmentally in terms of some of the air and things that nature, I believe.

Uh, has there been precautions in terms of what this project would have on the impact in that area?

And then has there been I don't know, I don't know, General Service would answer, but there'd be precautions taken for that in terms of tree planting or canopies or uh more or more advanced technology like carbon capture or things of that nature to be able to deal with that.

And I think there's also has it been ran through the metric of carbon use effectiveness.

Um, through the chair to pro tem teeth.

I cannot speak to the uh direct uh studies that have been done.

However, we have been working closely with um environmental great lakes and energy authority to do environmental site assessment phase one and phase two on the Grand River parcel specifically.

Um if remediation is needed, we will also be partnering with the um state entity to get that remediation completed.

Yeah, I really appreciate that because that's something that we got to really deal with.

I know we're dealing with a lot of buildings.

I think 90% of the buildings were built before 1978.

So we're gonna have some environmental concerns, not only that, but also with lead paint as well, so you're gonna have to have that abatement.

And I know we have something on the agenda actually dealing with um lead in housing, abating that.

So I think it's a good thing.

So we gotta be really careful um with the contaminant contaminated dirt issue.

I have some questions about that, but I think that would probably be better for construction and demolition.

Uh and part of the reason why that's no longer with the land bank is because of that issue in terms of contaminated dirt.

I think it's more, but I have more of it from a technological aspect.

Um, but otherwise, uh this is my last question.

I wanted to talk to you a little bit about um which I think which usually is a good thing.

But you talked about your community engagement.

You said there was no one that said anything negative or positive about this issue.

Now, is that because people really felt so type away badly and they just held their tongue?

Or is this because people felt good about it, but they just you know didn't want to resp you know, they just didn't want to express themselves.

They're just more reserved about that.

Because usually that's a good thing.

I just want to dive my eyes and cross my T's here.

Or was it just such a great presentation?

You just wowed everybody to silence.

Um, through the chair two proton young.

Um, we did receive one lever letter of support from the Grand River Block Club, and then um when we did uh visit with the Grand River Block Club again, we did see receive overwhelming uh community support and 15 letters of support for the greater rezoning within the neighborhood.

Um we just did not receive any uh comments for support or um disapproval at our last hearing with CBC.

And I I know I said about this would be my final question.

I also wanted to ask about um mobility as a service and uh particularly first mile, last mile question.

I want to know we since it's a transit-oriented development, would this also encompass that?

Will there be opportunities in terms of multiple modes of transit uh based on this development as well?

I think as we review proposals with our city partners, they will help determine how mobility will be encompassing the entire entire proposal and the project.

And so as we get further down the line, that will be discussed and included in any uh any proposals that we review at the end of the day.

Right, because I would just ask like we have like a uh like would there be in the future where somebody could call like a mobility uh navigator or mobility manager and ask them about how many different transit options are available to me, you know, whether it's bus, with a scooter, whether it's bike, uh whether it's Uber, whether it's Lyft, whether it's microtransit, where it's paratransit, you I think that'd be really good, especially this transit-oriented development.

That'd be something that'd be really good for a lot of reasons.

Um I know we're not there in terms of uh air transit yet.

We have Joby and some things that are cut online that are supposed to be comparable to Uber, but we're not there yet, or do we have the infrastructure for that?

I'm not saying we start building helipads, but I just think in the future we need to start preparing for this as this is starting to come along as technology is moving faster and faster every year.

So uh that's all my questions.

Uh, I appreciate that and I look forward to supporting this proposal and uh great work, everybody.

All right, thank you, Pro Tim.

And now we will turn to public comment regarding the public hearing, the rezoning request that is before us.

If you would like to make a public comment, please raise your hand, whether in person or virtually, please raise your hand.

Going once, going twice, going three times.

The collection of public comment has concluded.

I did see one hand raised in the committee of the whole.

Ms.

Gray, how many hands do we have raised virtually?

We have four hands raised for virtual public comment that I'm here.

Okay, we'll give everyone one minute and thirty seconds for public comment regarding the public hearing.

And we'll start once the clock is on the screen.

We'll start with Mr.

Foster.

Good morning.

Once again, um just like a change of code dress.

It pertains to zoning here.

I would like to uh that you guys clearly establish the threshold, just saying support and support doesn't identify um people, individuals, or entities supporting projects.

Um as we all human, we buy things as a thing called bias remorse, right?

After you purchase some, you don't feel good with what you bought.

Our community um have suffered bias remorse on a number of occasions based upon uh professional opinions.

Um as it pertains to the zoning, for example, um the bias remorse.

If we just look at situations um where properties were sold for low with little to no input for the community.

Let's look at Bel Ao, for example.

It's attentions, it was sold for little or nothing, and then they want to rezone and start changing um things and to personal things over time, and so there has to be a consistency through whatever projects there is.

There should be a clear number of who it is that showed up, um, what it is or where it is they stand before any projects move forward.

We have 670 something thousand people in the city.

So to just say support, support, support isn't enough to be moving.

No million dollar businesses to be rezoning different things before clearly getting support and articulation from our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We are going to move to our first virtual caller.

Who do we have first, Ms.

Great?

AJ King is our first virtual caller, Madam Hair.

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

Am I heard?

Yes.

Am I heard?

Do you hear me?

We can hear you, Mr.

King.

Thank you.

I love to see Detroit changing for the better.

It seems every time you see the downtown, it's improving a little.

The Holton Tower is beautiful.

It's too bad it has taken a nine years for them.

That's the way's pause Mr.

King's time for a moment.

Mr.

King.

You can only speak regarding the public hearing that we just heard during this segment.

If you have a general public comment, we can um connect you with the clerk's office for you to provide that general public comment.

But this time is specifically for the public hearing that is relative to the rezoning of properties on Rose Par Rosa Parks Boulevard and Cochrane Street.

We can resume his time, Mr.

King.

Oh I uh Mr.

King, are you still there?

Ms.

Great, is Mr.

King still on the line?

Yes, he's muted.

I would like to cease my time.

I apologize.

No worries, thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Marguerite Maddox and Scarlet.

Miss Marguerite Maddox and Scarlet.

Good morning.

You have the floor.

Hi.

But I guess you can't make a lab room.

Um little work.

I need a more study to begin.

How we can have in that area.

We would be a good idea.

Yes.

But my biggest son is one in the area.

And be up in that area.

Okay.

I move up.

Um then.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Owner Papa.

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

Uh thank you, good morning.

And to the chair, may I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Carolyn Hughes.

Um the councilman mentioned that um the core city had already had issues with dirty dirt or uh environmental problems.

Don't you think you all have caused enough issues for us environmentally as opposed to trying to clean up the mess that you've made instead of making more messes?

This project, first of all, is a transit project, but they neglect to tell you a mobility component to the project.

That's interesting to me.

They also say one of the things they do is price and feasibility.

Well, what is the price and what is the physical feasibility to this project?

And can you give me an example of the Detroit Land Bank that has done a project prior to this and how it has turned out?

Um I'd also like to ask how much was paid for the two residential housings that are left.

What was interesting to me was the slide that said urban renewal.

We understand urban to renewal to un to mean Negro removal.

That's what it meant when they cleared out Black Bottom, and now they're um turning it into a boulevard into something else.

I'm I'm with uh Mr.

Um Foster.

The there's no clear project here.

There's no clear price here.

And so I am against any more projects or rezoning at this particular time to anyone.

And I don't think the Detroit Land Bank has proven to be um a good partner.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our last caller is to hear at Ma.

To hear Amad, you have one minute 30 seconds for public comment regarding the public hearing.

Yes, good morning again regarding the public hearing.

Uh data to the uh Mr.

Foster, and um to um uh the the previous caller, I think it was Ms.

Umapapa.

Uh Detroit homeowners were illegally foreclosed.

100,000 homes were illegally foreclosed.

I want to know is are these process part of the illegal foreclosures?

And the land bank is in my opinion, is evil.

You know, they they have no credibility.

Um the members of the community engagement, the Grand River Block Club.

It would be interesting to hear from them.

We they could be anybody.

We you know, you these block clubs are uh mysterious.

We all know who they are.

They could be Dan Gilbert.

So that's not enough for us.

Uh, I want you all to be strategic.

Um, like Miss Hughes was uh says she is so on point all the time.

Be strategic.

Do your research.

These developers get the tax breaks, then they raise the the uh taxes so high.

I mean, the rents so high, people can't even afford them.

So then they bring in um the the gentrifiers who can afford it.

That's how they keep us from being able from black people from owning these uh um living in these properties because they they outprice us, they already stole all our money um through uh enslavement.

Thank you.

All right, that now concludes public comment regarding the public hearing, and it sounds like you all need to clarify some things.

Who'd like to start?

Uh thank you, madam chair.

I have a couple of responses, and then I will let my colleagues at the land bank uh take over with very specific questions to them.

Uh regarding um some of the questions in terms of uh the last caller with um to here of odd, uh these were not part of the illegal foreclosures.

Um these properties were old parcels similar to um the caller Miss Carolyn Hughes was referring to with urban renewal.

This is an old urban renewal site.

Uh the site itself or the parcels themselves are what was left over that were never developed.

Um in terms of future development, what that looks like.

Is this a transit project?

It is not a transit project.

It is something that will have transit focus that will allow for you know buses to come through, things of that nature to be a little bit more um transit and pedestrian friendly.

Uh however, the neighborhood itself currently outside of the PD district is mainly R2 and R3.

So, what we are trying to do with these PD with these PD parcels is allow for them to actually be developed and developed into potential residential homes outside of the SD2 parcel, which would then be used for commercial uses to reactivate that corridor.

Um in terms of what Mr.

Foster was commenting about with guarding fires or more.

This is something that we are trying to um tackle.

When it comes to the parcels themselves, again, they are PD parcels.

Right now they are vacant.

Nothing can be developed on them unless it becomes this huge multi um story building on these very tiny parcels, which is not feasible.

What we're trying to do is allow for these parcels to go back and be developed as residential to allow for more residential housing to be built and to revitalize that community.

They are not for sale.

Those homeowners still live in those properties.

I believe those were a majority of the questions.

Right now they are vacant because of the PD.

Nothing can happen to them.

So to allow for more development on any type of project, the re the zoning needs to occur to allow for developers to come in, propose bids, allow for different entities to propose different projects that will then go through the proper planning process.

But as of now, if a rezoning does not happen on these lots, the lots will remain vacant because they are not allowed to be developed on.

With that, I can pass it off to the landing for any other uh questions that they would like to answer.

Thank you very much.

Uh just to provide additional feedback, our goal for the lots will be to put them back into productive use.

And so this will allow for more competitive proposals to be proposed, and the developers or community engagers will be able to engage together and figure out what the best path for it will be along with our city partners.

Uh, whatever proposal that is put forth, they will be required to engage with the community a lot more, especially as they go through any approvals that are needed, and so we definitely want to take that into account.

These are raw vacant parcels that we're doing our best to put back into productive use.

Uh in terms of pricing and feasibility, uh, those things will be determined at lists.

We have third-party real estate brokers that we receive BPOs for when it comes to pricing the vacant land.

So pricing for the parcels will be determined at that point, and then feasibility of the project will be determined between our city partner zoning uh and everyone else involved in the decision making as it relates to the proposal that is essentially the highest and best use.

Uh and as Kelsey stated on the environmental tip, we will be doing environmental review, and so we'll be sure to address any of those questions as we go through that process.

Thank you.

Anything else?

Any additional questions?

Um, I do want to ask you one.

So we have six lots that are all contiguous.

I know one has a Rosa Parks um address, but it's just on the corner.

Um, are you all planning to bundle them and sell them as one of the so at this time I think that four of the parcels will be bundled together and then one is going to be sewed itself, the larger bundle.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Seeing no additional questions.

Pro Tim, is there a motion on line item five?

Motion move line item five.

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

Motion is in line item five for motion or recommendation to approve.

The formal session motion to send line 905 to formal session with recommendation to approve.

The motion has been made.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you.

Thank you all so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

This now closes out the 1015 public hearing.

I'd now like to call to order the 1020 discussion.

The 1020 discussion is the city planning commission's annual report for fiscal year 2024-2025.

And as we welcome you all to the table, we are going to take a brief pause.