Develop Detroit
Develop Detroit is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit real estate developer that builds and preserves affordable, mixed-income, and mixed-use housing for low-income residents, seniors, veterans, and disinvested neighborhoods, financed through LIHTC, Historic, and New Markets Tax Credits and foundation grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Develop Detroit does
Develop Detroit is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit real estate development company headquartered at 1452 Randolph, Suite 300 in Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 2015 by Housing Partnership Network (HPN) — modeled on the Gulf Coast Housing Partnership — the organization became fully independent from HPN in June 2022. It provides full-service development across site selection, land assembly, entitlements, project design, financial feasibility, project financing, construction management, and asset management, with a mission of producing equitable, affordable, and mixed-income housing in Detroit neighborhoods experiencing displacement pressure.
Its product portfolio centers on multifamily rental, single-family for-sale (via the Revolution Homes sub-brand), and mixed-use developments. Named projects include The Hive on Gratiot (mixed-use apartments, live/work, retail), The Freelon at Sugar Hill (68 loft-style apartments with 14 veteran units), University Meadows Village (53-unit senior housing with Presbyterian Villages of Michigan), Marwood + Marston (71 mixed-income transit-oriented units), and Detroit Food Commons (30,000 sq ft community food/retail hub with the Detroit People's Food Co-op). Since inception, Develop Detroit has acquired and built over 400 affordable housing units, with 800+ additional units currently under development.
The business model relies on stacking complex federal tax credit instruments — Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Historic Tax Credits, and New Markets Tax Credits — combined with grants from major foundations (Ford, Kresge, W.K. Kellogg, McGregor) and debt from CDFIs and banks (Bank of America, PNC, Capital Impact Partners, IFF, Invest Detroit). Revenue is generated through developer fees, asset management, and project-based income streams rather than conventional product sales; specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The customer base is distributed across low-income Detroit residents, seniors, veterans, and disinvested neighborhoods — implying low customer concentration risk but high dependence on capital provider relationships.
Develop Detroit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Develop Detroit
- Legal name
- Develop Detroit
- Website
- https://developdetroit.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Develop Detroit is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit real estate developer that builds and preserves affordable, mixed-income, and mixed-use housing for low-income residents, seniors, veterans, and disinvested neighborhoods, financed through LIHTC, Historic, and New Markets Tax Credits and foundation grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Develop Detroit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affordable Housing Development
- NAICS
- Residential Building Construction (23611), Land Subdivision (23721)
- SIC
- Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)
Keywords
Where Develop Detroit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Develop Detroit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Affordable Housing Development: Develops affordable and mixed-income housing units for sale and rental. Revenue generated through LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credits), Historic Tax Credits, and New Markets Tax Credits. Projects include multifamily rental housing, single-family for-sale units, and mixed-use developments.
- Strategic Commercial Development: Undertakes strategic economic and commercial developments that help stabilize and transform disinvested neighborhoods. Includes retail and commercial property development at scale appropriate to locations.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations including Ford Foundation, Kresge Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, McGregor Fund, and corporate partners for mission-driven development projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Develop Detroit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Develop Detroit is a non-profit real estate developer that acquires, builds, and operates affordable and mixed-income housing across Detroit. Its portfolio includes multifamily rental housing, single-family for-sale homes, and mixed-use developments, financed through LIHTC, Historic Tax Credits, and New Markets Tax Credits. The company also undertakes strategic commercial developments that stabilize disinvested neighborhoods.
Product overview
Develop Detroit is a non-profit real estate development company offering affordable and mixed-income housing development services. The company's product portfolio includes housing development services (multifamily rental housing, single-family for-sale, mixed-use developments, retail and commercial property), housing preservation programs, and service-enriched housing for seniors, veterans, and the homeless. Named offerings include Revolution Homes (single-family homebuilding initiative), The Hive on Gratiot, The Freelon at Sugar Hill, University Meadows Village, Detroit Food Commons, and Marwood + Marston.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Revolution Homes: A single-family homebuilding initiative from Develop Detroit designed to create sustainable, economically diverse communities.
Products and services
- Revolution Homes Single-family homebuilding initiative from Develop Detroit designed to create sustainable, economically diverse communities through high-quality housing developments across Detroit.
- The Hive on Gratiot Mixed-use development featuring apartments, live/work units, workshops, galleries, shops, and food venues located at Gratiot Avenue and Russell Street, connecting Eastern Market, Lafayette Park, and downtown Detroit.
- The Freelon at Sugar Hill Mixed-income, mixed-use building in Midtown with 68 residential loft-style apartments, retail space, and a 160-stall parking garage, including 14 units reserved for veterans.
- University Meadows Village Affordable senior housing in Detroit's Woodbridge neighborhood, a joint development with Presbyterian Villages of Michigan featuring 53 renovated units with green spaces, raised garden beds, and solar roof panels.
- Detroit Food Commons 30,000 sq ft community development project in Detroit's North End featuring a 15,000 sq ft retail store for Detroit People's Food Co-op, an incubator kitchen, a 3,900 sq ft event space, and outdoor vendor booth space.
- Marwood + Marston Affordable transit-oriented development in Detroit's North End featuring 71 units (59 in historic building plus 12 new construction) of studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedroom rental homes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 400 affordable housing units acquired and built since 2015
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Develop Detroit
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Develop Detroit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Develop Detroit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- NeighborWorkscoreNational network supporting community development through affordable housing
- Housing Partnership NetworkcoreNational network of high capacity nonprofit housing developers that launched Develop Detroit in 2015
- Detroit (City)majorCity government partner for Detroit neighborhood development
- Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)coreCo-developer on The Freelon at Sugar Hill project; nonprofit focused on preserving affordable housing
- Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network (DBCFSN)coreProject sponsor for Detroit Food Commons; developer and co-sponsor of community-owned grocery store and incubator kitchen
- Vanguard Community Development CorporationmajorCo-developer on Marwood + Marston project in Detroit's historic North End neighborhood
- Presbyterian Villages of Michigan (PVM)majorJoint development partner for University Meadows Village affordable senior housing project
- Whiting TurnermajorGeneral contractor for The Freelon at Sugar Hill project
- McIntosh Poris and Perkins+WillmajorArchitects and building designers for The Freelon at Sugar Hill project
- L.S. Brinker GroupmajorGeneral contractor for Detroit Food Commons construction
- Sims Design Group and Baltimore DesignmajorBuilding design and architects for Detroit Food Commons project
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Develop Detroit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vanguard Community Development Corporation: Detroit-based nonprofit affordable housing developer. Direct peer and co-development partner with Develop Detroit on the Marwood + Marston project in Detroit's North End, sharing mission, geography, and resident segments.
- BRIDGE Housing: Major nonprofit affordable and workforce housing developer on the West Coast with a similar full-service model spanning development, asset management, and resident services. Comparable in mission-driven affordable housing strategy and LIHTC-financed pipeline model.
- Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH): National nonprofit affordable housing developer and preservation operator. Direct peer to Develop Detroit given their existing co-development partnership on The Freelon at Sugar Hill and overlapping focus on mixed-income, mixed-use development in disinvested urban markets.
- Presbyterian Villages of Michigan (PVM): Michigan-based nonprofit senior housing provider. Joint development partner with Develop Detroit on University Meadows Village, comparable in their focus on affordable housing and aging-in-place services for low-income seniors.
- Mercy Housing: One of the largest nonprofit affordable housing developers in the US. Comparable in mission, LIHTC-financed multifamily development pipeline, mixed-use projects, and service-enriched housing for low-income residents including seniors and families.
- The Community Builders: National nonprofit developer of affordable and mixed-income housing. Comparable in their full-service development approach, urban focus, use of LIHTC financing, and emphasis on mixed-use, mixed-income community transformation.
Others
- Capital Impact Partners: National CDFI providing capital and capacity building to community developers. Listed as a major financial partner of Develop Detroit, comparable in mission-driven financing focus but operating as a capital provider rather than a direct developer.
- NeighborWorks: National network of community development nonprofits. A listed core partner of Develop Detroit, supporting affordable housing through training, lending, and advocacy. Comparable as ecosystem partner but not a direct developer peer.
Broad incumbents
- Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit operating across affordable housing development, capital deployment, and policy advocacy. Comparable in affordable housing mission and LIHTC strategy, but operates at far greater scale and as a broader ecosystem player including financing, research, and policy.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): Major national CDFI and community development intermediary. Comparable in Detroit community development focus and affordable housing deployment, but operates as a capital provider and capacity builder rather than a direct developer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Develop Detroit social profiles
Digital presenceDevelop Detroit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Develop Detroit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Develop Detroit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Develop Detroit M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Develop Detroit
What does Develop Detroit do?
Develop Detroit is a non-profit real estate developer that acquires, builds, and operates affordable and mixed-income housing across Detroit. Its portfolio includes multifamily rental housing, single-family for-sale homes, and mixed-use developments, financed through LIHTC, Historic Tax Credits, and New Markets Tax Credits. The company also undertakes strategic commercial developments that stabilize disinvested neighborhoods.
Is Develop Detroit a public or private company?
Develop Detroit is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Develop Detroit founded?
Develop Detroit was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Develop Detroit based?
Develop Detroit is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
How does Develop Detroit make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Affordable Housing Development is the primary driver. The others are strategic Commercial Development and foundation and Corporate Grants.
Who are Develop Detroit's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vanguard Community Development Corporation, BRIDGE Housing, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), Presbyterian Villages of Michigan (PVM), Mercy Housing and The Community Builders. Others are Capital Impact Partners and NeighborWorks. Broad incumbents are Enterprise Community Partners and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).
Does Develop Detroit have an API?
No public API is recorded for Develop Detroit.
What industry is Develop Detroit in?
Develop Detroit's product category is Affordable Housing Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAI, Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction. Its NAICS code is 23611 and its SIC code is 6552.