• Renovated building provides 47 units of affordable housing in the historic Virginia Park neighborhood. 
• More than 200 Detroiters received on-the-job training in crucial skilled trades while renovating Weston Hall.  
• On-time rent payments will go towards credit-building thanks to a partnership with the Rocket Community Fund. 

Once standing through one of the most pivotal chapters in Detroit’s history, Weston Hall has been fully restored and reopened, transforming a historic structure into 47 units of high-quality, all-affordable housing while honoring the legacy of the Virginia Park neighborhood.

Today, the redevelopment of Weston Hall represents a full-circle moment: reinvesting in a neighborhood that endured decades of disinvestment, while preserving one of its historic anchors.

“Weston Hall is proof that when we invest in Detroiters, we can create more than affordable housing, we can create opportunity,” said Mayor Mary Sheffield. “This project not only brings quality, affordable homes to the Virginia Park neighborhood, it also equipped more than 200 Detroit residents with hands-on workforce training that can lead to long-term careers in the skilled trades.” 


Built by Detroiters, for Detroiters

Developed by Detroit Landmark Development (DLD), Weston Hall is Detroit’s first all-affordable “smart” residential building—combining modern amenities with affordability for residents earning between 50% and 80% of Area Median Income (AMI).

“Weston Hall proves that affordability doesn’t require compromise,” said Ed Fowler, Co-Founder of Detroit Landmark Development. “Detroit talent built this building, and Detroit residents will benefit from it. This is what modern housing should look like.”

After sitting vacant for nearly 20 years, Weston Hall’s transformation was powered by Detroit’s workforce.

More than 200 Detroit residents received hands-on job training while working on the building through programs including:
Emerging Industries Training Institute (EITI) 
Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) 
Detroit Training Center  
Flip The Script by Goodwill  
Detroit At Work  

This workforce-driven model not only reduced construction costs but created career pathways in the skilled trades—ensuring the project’s economic impact extended far beyond the building itself.

Olen Womble and Amber Simpson are just two of the dozens of Detroiters who helped bring Weston Hall back to life. Simpson was hired in September of 2020, and Womble just a few months later. The two worked at Weston Hall for the duration of the renovation project. Once the hall was finished, Womble and Simpson used the skills they obtained to launch their own company, Day Rose Holdings LLC- General Construction Co.  

“If I could describe my experience working on Weston Hall, it would be inspiring,” said Amber Simpson. “Not only was I able to help preserve a piece of Detroit history, I learned so much and grew not only professionally, but personally.”  

 

A Model for Equitable Development

The project also connects housing to long-term financial stability. Through partnerships with organizations like Credit Builders Alliance and support from Rocket Community Fund, residents will have access to tools that help build credit—an essential step toward future homeownership.

“Stable housing is one of the most important foundations for long-term financial security, and Weston Hall represents the kind of holistic investment Detroit residents need” said Beth Sorce, Senior Director of Housing Stability, Rocket Community Fund. “By combining affordable housing with opportunities to build credit through on-time rent payments, this development helps residents not only secure a quality place to live but also take meaningful steps toward future homeownership and generational wealth.”

"At Henry Ford Health, we understand that housing is healthcare," said Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Senior Vice President, Community Health, Education & Wellness, and Chief Wellness Officer for Henry Ford Health. "Stable housing impacts physical health, mental health, financial well-being, and overall quality of life. That is why partnerships like this are so important to the communities we serve."

Safeya Woolcock was one of the first residents to move into Weston Hall. She was born and raised in Jamaica and came to the United States to pursue a degree at Eastern Michigan University. After graduating, she accepted a job offer at Wayne Metro.  

“It’s been a great experience living at Weston Hall,” said Safeya Woolcock. “There is a lot of care that goes into the building and the needs of the tenants.” 
 

Honoring History While Building the Future

Originally part of a neighborhood developed in the late 1800s and later recognized for its historic significance, Weston Hall now represents a new chapter for Virginia Park—one rooted in preservation, equity, and opportunity.  

Located in an area deeply affected by the 1967 Detroit riots, Weston Hall stands as a rare survivor of the destruction that reshaped the community. The uprising—centered along nearby corridors—resulted in widespread loss of life, property, and opportunity, while exposing deep systemic inequities faced by Black Detroiters.  

Rather than erasing the past, the redevelopment embraces it—restoring a structure that lived through Detroit’s most defining moments and positioning it as a symbol of resilience and reinvestment.

Creating Convenience & Comfort

Each unit at Weston Hall includes Smart Home technology that can be controlled through The Weston Hall App, built on PropertyDek — an in-house platform developed by Detroit Landmark Development for affordable housing operations and resident engagement.  

Through the app residents can lock or unlock entrance doors, set their thermostat, turn lights on and off, raise or lower window blinds and track energy usage. Units also feature high-end features such as heated bathroom floors and LED mirrors.  

Beyond convenience, the platform also supports financial wellness. Residents have access to credit tracking and financial goal-setting tools within the app, supporting Weston Hall’s credit-building initiative and helping create pathways toward greater financial stability and future homeownership

More information on Weston Hall can be found at thewestonhall.com.