Detroit City Council Set to Decide on Incentive Package for $3 Billion New Center Development Initiative

Detroit is on the brink of a transformative development in the New Center area, with a proposed $3 billion project known as the “Future of Health.” This ambitious endeavor is a collaborative effort between Henry Ford Health, the Detroit Pistons, and Michigan State University. Despite facing some opposition at public hearings, the project aims to significantly expand Henry Ford Hospital and introduce a range of new facilities, including a towering 21-story hospital building, 662 mixed-income apartments, a cutting-edge medical research center, and a convenient parking deck. The Detroit City Council is scheduled to review proposals for tax incentives for five of the six components of this project on Tuesday. These incentives, which include tax breaks and future tax captures, amount to a substantial $296 million over a 35-year span. The developers have stressed that these financial incentives are essential for the viability of the projects, except for the Henry Ford Hospital expansion, which is the largest of the six projects with a budget of $2.2 billion. Given its nonprofit status, Henry Ford Health is exempt from property taxes and is not seeking additional incentives for this part of the project. A significant portion of the requested tax incentives is intended...