The Brooke on Bagley Connects Corktown and Mexicantown

Mayor Mike Duggan joined developer Clifford Brown of Woodborn Partners along with project funders and neighborhood residents on Monday, June 10 to cut the ribbon on The Brooke on Bagley, a new mixed-use and mixed-income development as part of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund initiative. 

The $23 million development at 2420 Bagley includes 78 apartments and more than 2,100 square feet of retail. 16 of the units have been set aside as affordable housing at 80 percent area median income (AMI). There are 38 one-bedroom, three two-bedroom and 37 studio apartments. Residents can enjoy amenities such as 24-hour emergency maintenance, fitness center and dog park. The two-tiered outdoor space and the indoor lounge will also be open to the community for special events.  

“Just a few days ago, we celebrated the reopening of Michigan Central Station and today we celebrate the opening of this beautiful new mixed use, mixed income building just a few steps away.  People living in The Brooke on Bagley will be within easy walking distance of the Southwest Greenway and riverfront, Michigan Central and Roosevelt Park, Mexicantown and Corktown. With its great location and amenities, this will be city living at its best.”

“We are excited to expand on our investment in the city and honored to join the amazing neighborhood that is Hubbard Richard,” said Woodborn Partners CEO & President Clifford Brown. “We are grateful to all of our partners who have made this happen and look forward to a bright future.”

The development brings much-needed quality affordable housing to the Southwest Detroit community. It sits less than a mile from the newly renovated Michigan Central Station, which just celebrated its historic reopening. It also sits along the Southwest Greenway, connecting residents to both the award-winning Detroit riverfront and the Joe Louis Greenway.

“We are seeing incredible growth in Southwest Detroit and the Corktown neighborhood,” said Housing and Revitalization Director Julie Schneider. “With that growth, the city is committed to creating more affordable housing, and therefore create opportunities for Detroiters to be part of this exciting change.”

Community-driven design

The design of The Brooke on Bagley, led by Gensler Detroit, reflects the position of the building as a gateway and connector between Mexicantown, Hubbard Richard, and Michigan Central Station.  

The interiors support the building’s authentic integration into the existing culture of the surrounding community. Colorful, textural details like the intricate breezeblock tile and mural from local artist Elton Monroy Duran are inspired by the surrounding community and solidify the connection to the neighborhood. 

“The mural is an important piece anchoring the overall art plan for The Brooke on Bagley, which I worked closely with the Woodborn Partners team to not only reflect but engage the community,” said Isabelle Weiss, Director of CollectorAnonymous.

Muralist Monroy Duran spoke about the meaning of his latest work of art. “The abstract floral design was inspired by folklorico skirts, amplifying a cross-section of a skirt in motion. The energetic composition connects the community of The Brooke with the community of Southwest, creating a sense of place and belonging for everyone.”

“We are thrilled to see this project come to life; it’s a vital and much-needed addition to the thriving Southwest Detroit community,” said John Jourden, Architectural Design Director at Gensler Detroit. “What was once a vacant lot is now positioned to be an equitable, active hub for community and hospitality-driven living at the nexus of Mexicantown and Hubbard Richard.” 

The Brooke on Bagley is a Strategic Neighborhood Fund (SNF) project. The SNF is a $150 million private-public partnership between the City of Detroit and the nonprofit Invest Detroit funded by six corporate funders and several philanthropic organizations to invest in housing stabilization, improving parks, commercial corridors, streetscapes, and equitable opportunities for local business owners of color.

“The Strategic Neighborhood Fund has driven the creation of equitable development projects in Detroit,” said Keona Cowan, executive vice president of lending for Invest Detroit. “SNF aims to support projects that benefit all Detroiters by offering more housing options in neighborhoods, ensuring affordable living spaces in the city, and increasing access to jobs within residents’ own communities. Our goal is for all Detroiters to benefit from the positive changes occurring in neighborhoods throughout the city.”

The Brooke on Bagley is also the first project to tap the $11 million Ebiara fund, a partnership between nonprofit Invest Detroit and consulting firm URGE Imprint. The fund provides capital and resources to support growth of Detroit’s black and brown-owned development firms.

In addition to the SNF and Ebiara, the development was made possible through financial partners Capital Impact Partners, the Michigan Strategic Fund, the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., the Impact Developer’s Fund through TruFund, the Ford Foundation and Morgan Stanley.