Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee Meeting – July 9, 2026
Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee Meeting – July 9, 2026
The Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee convened on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 4:00 AM UTC (though the transcript references afternoon proceedings). Councilmember Letitia Johnson chaired the meeting, with a quorum present (Councilmember Gabriele Santiago Romero absent). The committee considered several contracts, reports, and property sales, approving all items without objection unless otherwise noted. Key actions included renewing opioid‑settlement funded counseling services, advancing public housing rehabilitation, supporting community land trust planning, and approving the sale of tax‑foreclosed occupied properties under the Make It Home program. A correction was made to one contract’s department attribution.
Consent Calendar
- Line item 9.1 (unfinished business: resolution supporting Senate Bill 1053) – held for one‑week bring‑back.
- Line items 9.2–9.4 (unfinished business) – held for two‑week bring‑back.
- Line items 10.7–10.10 (reports and annual awards) – received and filed or sent to formal session with recommendation to approve without discussion.
Discussion Items
- Line item 10.1 – Contract 6005951-8 (Amendment 3): $1,025,725 one‑year renewal for drug‑use intervention counseling through Families Against Narcotics, funded by 100% opioid settlement funds. Initially sent to formal session, but a correction letter changed the responsible department from Housing and Revitalization to Human Homelessness and Family Services. The committee reconsidered and sent the corrected version to formal session with a recommendation to approve.
- Line item 10.2 – Contract 6007459-A1 (Amendment 1): $2,000,000 increase and contract term extension through Dec 31, 2030, for oversight of rehabilitation and construction of public housing units (100% CDBG-DR funding). Gordon Pearson (CDBG-DR Director) and Irene Tucker (Detroit Housing Commission) described that the grant covers over 1,000 existing units and will bring online over 200 new units. Councilmember Pro Tem Young requested a Gantt chart, analysis of property value impacts, neighborhood financial stability, area deprivation index, and spin‑off job effects. The department agreed to provide follow‑up information. The item was approved.
- Line items 10.3–10.6 – Four contracts totaling $931,140 for community land trust (CLT) planning activities (100% city funding): Genesis Harbor of Opportunities Promoting Excellence (Genesis Hope), Detroit Cultivator Community Land Trust, LIVE 6 Detroit, and North Corktown Neighborhood Association. Kegan Mahoney (Housing and Revitalization Department) explained that CLTs are nonprofit entities that acquire land to preserve long‑term affordability for homeownership. The contracts resulted from a competitive RFP; two additional CLT contracts are forthcoming. Geographies include areas near Six Mile/Livernois, Lodge/Davidson, Island View, North Corktown, and Henry Ford Hospital. Councilmember Johnson highlighted the goal of equitable homeownership citywide and thanked HRD for its work. The item was approved.
- Line item 10.11 – Sale of vacant lots (17302‑336, 17325‑43 Lamont, 17314‑20 Healy) to 4600 Nancy LLC (Leonard Syrup). John Tron (HRD Real Estate) stated the buyer intends to clean up illegally dumped lots, fence them, and use for additional parking. Approved.
- Line item 10.12 – Sale of Wayne County tax‑foreclosed occupied properties under the Make It Home program. Cecilia Ulvera (Human Homelessness and Family Services) reported that about 900 properties are eligible, with 253 households having contacted the program. Final cohort determination continues through October. Councilmember Johnson sought address‑level details to help a constituent facing potential eviction scams. Pro Tem Young requested comparative analyses of program impacts on gentrification, housing stability, vacancy rates, property tax collection, and growth‑versus‑value metrics. The department committed to exploring more robust analysis. Approved.
- Walk‑on item – Authorization of a new utility easement at 7441 Elmhurst (Planning and Development Department). Approved.
Key Outcomes
- All items on the agenda were moved to formal session with recommendations to approve, received and filed, or otherwise disposed of without dissent. No roll‑call votes were taken; all actions were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
- Line item 10.1 was amended to correct the responsible department (from Housing and Revitalization to Human Homelessness and Family Services) before final approval.
- Member reports were suspended, and the meeting adjourned.
- No public comments were heard.
- The committee directed staff to provide follow‑up analysis and information on several items, including timelines for public housing rehabilitation (item 10.2), detailed lists of Make It Home participant addresses (item 10.12), and broader program‑impact studies (item 10.12).
Meeting Transcript
To order the planning and economic development standing committee on today, Thursday, July 9th. Madam Clerk, will you please call the role? Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Gabriele Santiago Romero. Member Santiago Romero did indicate she would not be present. Madam Chair, you have a quorum present. Having a quorum present, we are back in session and picking up on the agenda with unfinished business beginning with line item 9.1. Line item 9.1 is the status of council member Angela Whitfield Callaway submitting memorandum relative to request for resolution in support of Senate Bill 1053. There is a request for a one-week bring back. Is there a motion? Motion. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. Without objection, I'd like to combine line items 9.2, 9.3, and 9.4. There is a request for a two-week bring back. Is there a motion? Motion. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. That brings us now to new business and line item 9.1, which is contract number 6005951-8. 100% opioid settlement funding. Amendment number three. This is a one-year renewal for drug use intervention counseling services. Contractor is families against narcotics. Contract period through August 28th, 2027. Contract increase amount 1 million 25,725. Is there a motion to approve or discuss? Motion to approve. There's a motion to send line item 10.1 to formal with a recommendation to approve. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. Line item 10.2, contract number 6007459-a1. 100% CDBGDR funding. Amendment number one to provide an increase of funds and add contract terms to oversee the rehabilitation and construction of public housing units. Contractor, Detroit Housing Commission. Contract period through December 31st, 2030. Contract increase amount two million dollars. Is there a motion to discuss? Motion discuss. Discussion. Yes, good afternoon through the chair. We do have Irene Tucker from DHC Online as well as Gordon Pearson. Thank you. If we can promote them, both are promoted as panelists, madam chair. Thank you. Good afternoon. Please introduce yourself for the record. Good afternoon. I'm Gordon Pearson. I am the CDBG Disaster Recovery Director with the Office of Development and Grants. Afternoon. Good afternoon.
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