On Saturday, September 14, the Hubbard Richard neighborhood in Southwest Detroit was buzzing with energy as over 200 guests gathered to celebrate the highly anticipated grand opening fiesta of the Unidos en Cultura: Design-Build Green Hub. From long-standing residents to curious visitors attending Detroit Design Month, the event offered a powerful moment of connection, bridging the area’s rich history with the promise of its future. Founder Tanya Saldivar-Ali said, “As Southwest Detroit continues to evolve, the Design-Build Green Hub will remain rooted in honoring the past while fostering a future driven by creativity, community, and sustainable growth. We, the people of Detroit, are the creative force shaping that future, one that builds community from the ground up.”
The 120-year-old building, also known as the Design-Build Green Hub, stands as a symbol of both the past and the future, artfully blending historic and cultural design elements. Founder Tanya Saldivar-Ali said “It represents a bridge between the neighborhood’s vibrant legacy and the innovative partnerships driving new opportunities across the city. Serving as an incubator for minority contractors and community stakeholders, the hub embodies the spirit of uniting “New Detroit” with “Legacy Detroit,” ensuring local voices remain central to creating sustainable and equitable solutions for the community.”
As guests arrived, they were welcomed by the work of local artist Demacillo in action, whose murals have become a beloved representation of Southwest Detroit’s next generation. The live mural painting at the front entrance, a visual expression of the event’s theme of community and creativity. On the 3D-printed front patio, the sounds of classic oldies filled the air. Michael Pallen performed, a local musician who grew up in Corktown- he also taught Luis Ali (his nephew & AGI Construction Co Founder) about carpentry. The nostalgic tunes resonated deeply with long-time residents, while the later shift to house beats spun by Latina DJ and artist Camilla Cantu reflected the neighborhood’s evolving cultural landscape.
One of the event highlights was a handcrafted horse-drawn carriage, lovingly created by local contractor Diego Sanchez. The carriage, a gift for his wife Karla, owner of Earthly Botanicals, embodied the spirit of craftsmanship and entrepreneurship. Complementing this unique feature were signature wellness edibles and drinks, which proved to be a hit among attendees, blending modernity with traditional craftsmanship in a nod to Southwest Detroit’s innovative spirit.
Inside the Design-Build Green Hub, guests were invited to explore the space, which Tanya said “was thoughtfully designed with community in mind”.
Local carpenter Joe Triosi created an expandable, custom-designed island that, “Will serve as a gathering space for intimate community roundtables in the future.”, said Tanya.
One of the Hub’s key features is a mural by Julianna Santomora, inspired by Diego Rivera’s “The Flower Carrier”. The mural brings life to Tanya’s vision and pays homage to the dignity and labor of the Mexican and immigrant working-class community members, who continue to play a vital role in the fabric of the neighborhood. The artwork incorporates musical elements, including a mariachi trumpet player, to honor the Lozano Family’s deep connection to Detroit’s Latino music scene.
Tanya said, “I asked Julianna to represent the woman in remembrance of my mother and all the strong women that raised me and who built this community.” Diego Rivera inspired the association of the calla lilly with themes of fertility, life, and the connection between the people and the land. Seeing this mural in the Design-Build Green Hub reaffirms visually and spiritually that this hub is by the community and for the community.
In the blue fireside chat room, the original wood-trimmed windows, pocket doors, and cast-iron fireplace have been meticulously preserved, and designed to honor the Lozano family’s legacy. Tanya intends for this space to be used for live fireside chats, creating a setting for intimate discussions on the challenges and opportunities the community faces today.
The Design-Build Green Hub opening was more than just a celebration of a new building—it was a tribute to the intertwining of past and future, bringing together community stories, craftsmanship, and a vision for a more inclusive and sustainable Detroit. The event not only honored the rich cultural heritage of Southwest Detroit but also opened new doors for future collaboration, growth, and empowerment across the city.
On the second floor of the hub, a showcase of AGI Construction’s past and future projects illustrated the company’s decade of impactful work throughout Detroit.
Yet the message went beyond bricks and mortar— Tanya said, “The focus was on how spaces are created with the community in mind and how these projects can have a meaningful impact on people and equity. The hub itself is a testament to equitable development, ensuring that the community is at the forefront of every decision made.”
The Design-Build Green Hub will now serve as AGI Construc–tion’s home office, providing a space for the company to expand its general contracting operations with a focus on meaningful, community-driven projects. Even more significant is the hub’s new role as the headquarters for Detroit Future Ops (DFO), which played a crucial role in the hub’s creation. The collaboration between AGI and DFO marks a new chapter in Detroit’s approach to inclusive building and design. Together, these organizations will focus on building sustainable communities, fostering hyper-local talent pipelines, and developing workforce initiatives aimed at making green building more affordable and accessible for Detroit residents.
The Design-Build Green Hub is more than just a workspace—it is a symbol of the future of inclusive development and a beacon of hope for the community it serves. Every element of the hub was intentionally crafted through a design process that engaged local residents, youth, partnerships, contractors, and even refugees. The space is a living, breathing model of what equitable development can look like.
Tanya explained how the building’s history is as profound as its future. In the 1930s the Lozano family, a Mexican-American family moved to Detroit in the 1930s for work—this house became a central part of their legacy. After the four Lozano brothers served in the military, they returned home and purchased the house for their parents, where two generations of the family were raised. One son, Frank Lozano, balanced his career as an educator with his passion for music, founding Panchito and the Latin Orchestra Band in the 1950s.
In a full-circle moment, Frank was also the elementary school principal of Tanya Saldivar-Ali, AGI Construction’s co-founder, at Webster Elementary. The Lozano family’s deep roots in the community run through the very foundation of the hub. While the family lived there it became known as a “safe house” for Mexican workers traveling to Detroit for road work, offering a place of refuge and support.
The hub pays homage to families like the Lozanos, whose legacy is woven into Detroit’s built environment, just as many community leaders laid the groundwork for this neighborhood during times of scarcity. Their efforts planted seeds of hope that are now blossoming into vibrant growth today.
While honoring this local legacy, the hub also stands as a beacon of innovation. The second-floor exhibit showcasing AGI Construction’s projects underscores a crucial question: how do we design spaces that prioritize community? The Design-Build Green Hub is the physical embodiment of DFO’s mission, blending past, present, and future to foster community-driven projects.
Tanya said that “As Southwest Detroit continues to evolve, the Design-Build Green Hub will remain rooted in honoring the past while fostering a future driven by creativity, community, and sustainable growth. We, the people of Detroit, are the creative force shaping that future, one that builds community from the ground up.”
As home to both AGI Construction and Detroit Future Ops, the hub will continue to elevate inclusive design and workforce development. These organizations will collaborate to create sustainable communities, build hyper-local talent pipelines, and explore ways to make green solutions more accessible to Detroiters.
Irma Maribel Andrade is a born and raised Detroiter. A passionate social worker who advocates “lifting others as you climb”. Irma spends her time doing research, gardening, advocating for social justice while being wife & mom of two.
