Detroit’s Fast Track PILOT Ordinance Aims to Secure $1 Billion in Affordable Housing

For years, Detroit has grappled with the rising cost of living, forcing many long-time residents out of their homes as property values and rents have surged. Now, the city is introducing a pivotal solution to address these growing housing challenges. Mayor Mike Duggan, along with key members of the City Council, is unveiling a Fast Track Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) ordinance that could drastically alter the landscape for affordable housing developments in Detroit. “We have built or preserved $1 billion in affordable housing units in the last five years, but the way our population is growing and rents are rising, we have to build another $1 billion to keep long-time Detroiters from being priced out of the city,” Mayor Duggan said. The Fast Track PILOT Ordinance is designed to speed up the approval process for affordable housing projects, reducing the typical bureaucratic delays that can slow projects down by as much as 6-9 months. This new proposal, spearheaded by Councilmembers Fred Durhal, Mary Sheffield, Mary Waters, and Coleman Young, seeks to streamline the approval process while also securing long-term affordable housing for low-income residents. The challenges for affordable housing developers are significant. Under the current system, developers face...