CHN Housing Partners, Detroit Blight Busters, Mayor Duggan, Community Leaders and Residents celebrate the ribbon cutting at Orchard Village Apartments

2025
  • $16 million investment brings 48 affordable units across four buildings to the Old Redford neighborhood
     

Mayor Mike Duggan, Council President Pro Tem James Tate joined CHN Housing Partners (CHN) and Detroit Blight Busters (DBB), as well as partners and funders to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Orchard Village Apartments, a 48-unit apartment community located in Detroit’s Old Redford neighborhood. CHN and DBB are co-developers of Orchard Village which is located at 21665 Orchard Street.

“We are proud to partner with Detroit Blight Busters to bring Orchard Village to the Old Redford neighborhood,” said Kevin Nowak, president and CEO of CHN. “Orchard Village would not have been possible without the support of Mayor Duggan and his team, MSHDA, the State of Michigan and a number of other funders. Thanks to their commitment to quality, safe and affordable housing, we can provide homes to 48 families in Detroit through Orchard Village.”

"Orchard Village is a dream come true thanks to the Detroit Blight Busters team, particularly Al Manfroni, as well as CHN Housing Partners and many other generous funders,” said John George, executive director of Detroit Blight Busters. “This development will be a wonderful home to families and children in our neighborhood for many years to come.”

Orchard Village is a 48-unit, two-bedroom one-bathroom apartment community comprised of four buildings, including a community space, on-site property management offices and 52 parking spaces. CHN manages the property and employs an on-site property manager. The construction of Orchard Village gave new life to nine vacant lots. Amenities include in-unit laundry, air conditioning, patios for lower-level units and a community space with computers and a kitchen.

Orchard Village pic1

 

“For decades, John George has been a community leader in getting rid of blighted buildings in Detroit,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “Now that we’re running out of them, he’s able to put his energy into building beautiful new affordable housing. What he and CHN Partners have done here with Orchard Village to transform vacant land into a new community in the Old Redford neighborhood is truly remarkable.”

An approximately $16 million investment in the Old Redford neighborhood, Orchard Village is primarily funded through a 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit awarded by MSHDA. Additional financing comes from the City of Detroit, the State of Michigan, Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, Flagstar Bank, First Merchants Bank, Churchill Stateside Group and DTE Energy. Cinnaire is the tax credit equity syndicator.

Orchard Village helps meet the need for affordable housing in the Old Redford neighborhood, identified by the City of Detroit’s Planning Commission in its Grand River Northwest Framework Plan. Orchard Village is a 100% affordable development. Residents must have a qualifying income at 30%-60% of the area median income (AMI).

"Orchard Village delivers the quality, affordable housing that our community deserves,” said Detroit City Council President Pro Tem, James Tate. “I’m proud to support developers who care about strengthening our Old Redford community and building with intention in a neighborhood that’s growing, thriving, and full of promise.”

The new housing community also resides in one of the 10 Strategic Neighborhood Fund (SNF) neighborhoods. The fund is a partnership between the city of Detroit and Invest Detroit, a mission-driven 501(c)3 organization and community development financial institution (CDFI), along with numerous philanthropic and corporate funders. Together they make up a unique partnership to bring about meaningful and impactful neighborhood investment.

Some recent investments in the area include:

  • The Obama building on the corner of Grand River and Lahser ($2.6M)
  • Old Redford Link Alley Street-Vacant Lot Activation ($1.3M)
  • The Old Redford Loop ($1M)

"This community was built with heart, with the belief that every Detroiter deserves a safe, beautiful place to call home,” said Julie Schneider, Detroit’s Housing and Revitalization Director. “I’m incredibly proud of the collaboration that made this vision a reality, and grateful to all the partners who share our commitment to strengthening neighborhoods like Old Redford."

LOHA Architects designed the building and JGJ Construction was the general contractor. Construction was completed in late 2024, and Orchard Village is fully leased.

Orchard Village pic2

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ABOUT CHN HOUSING PARTNERS        

CHN Housing Partners was founded in 1981 and began working in Detroit in 2017. It is a large-scale affordable housing developer, residential lender and housing service provider that works with its partners to solve major housing challenges for low-income people and underserved communities. CHN also partners with people—low-income individuals, families, seniors, the disabled and those experiencing homelessness — to improve their housing stability and economic mobility. CHN’s impact in Cleveland includes 3,200 new homeowners, the housing stability services it provides annually to 60,000 individuals, and the development of 7,100 new homes. In Michigan, CHN continues to focus on the power of a permanent address by working with public and private partners to increase Detroit’s stock of affordable housing through development, preservation and property management. CHN also leverages its expertise in nonprofit coalition building by acting as the Network Manager for the Detroit Housing Network – an alliance of housing nonprofits that have come together to provide clear and equitable access to housing services in Detroit. Learn more at chnhousingpartners.org.

About Detroit Blight Busters:

The Detroit Blight Busters was founded in 1988 with the mission and purpose to Stabilize and Revitalize the neighborhoods of Northwest Detroit. The Detroit Blight Busters has been recognized as a premier grass roots nonprofit organization.  One of its many awards was the "Point of Light" award given by President Bill Clinton for its outstanding community service.  Over the years, Blight Busters has taken a multi-faceted approach to Community re-development.  This approach involved the removal of all neighborhood blight and blighted abandoned structures, creating new energy and community involvement through the creation of a community farm, construction of new and rehabilitated housing and investment in the arts. Over the last 34 years Blight Busters has facilitated over 250,000 volunteers completing thousands of projects, hundreds of new homes constructed and rehabilitated, numerous public murals, and many tons of blight removed.  Blight Busters believes that you need to invite everyone to the table in order to achieve the desired outcome, which is a stable, vibrant community.  Learn more at detroitblightbusters.org.