A prominent yet dilapidated structure in Detroit, Fisher Body Plant number 21, is set to undergo a remarkable transformation into new housing. This project is made possible in part by a $1 million grant from EGLE, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Originally built in 1919 as part of the expansive Fisher Body Plant complex on Piquette Avenue, the facility played a crucial role in General Motors’ early history. It operated until 1984, after which it served as a paint company site until its abandonment in 1993. The city of Detroit took ownership in 2000.
The 8.7-acre site, encompassing 6501 Hastings Street, 666 Harper Avenue, and 991 Harper Avenue, suffers from contamination, including petroleum compounds, metals, chlorinated solvents, asbestos, and lead paint. Over the years, remediation efforts by EGLE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have included removing a leaking underground storage tank and addressing PCB contamination.
The $1 million EGLE Brownfield Redevelopment Grant will fund additional assessments, transportation and disposal of contaminated soil, final cleanup of the storage tank area, and installation of a vapor mitigation system. The project also receives support from a city-approved Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan totaling nearly $25 million, which allows developers to recoup eligible costs through increased property tax revenue after completion.
Anticipated to cost $153 million, the redevelopment project aims to deliver 433 new residential units and 44,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. It is projected to generate 80 full-time equivalent jobs. Located within walking distance of Wayne State University, the College for Creative Studies, and the Q-Line, Fisher Body 21 joins other EGLE-supported brownfield redevelopments like Piquette Square Veterans Housing, 411 Piquette residential, and 601 Piquette light manufacturing projects. Completion is scheduled for summer 2026.
“We are thrilled that EGLE is providing a significant grant to assist in the redevelopment of this historic, highly visible, and very challenging site,” said Brian Vosburg, Senior Director of Brownfield Redevelopment at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. “EGLE has long been a critical partner to the City for the cleanup and redevelopment of many of Detroit’s most environmentally challenged properties.”
EGLE allocates over half of its annual budget to bolster local projects, safeguard public health and the environment, and foster economic growth and employment opportunities for Michigan residents. Redevelopment initiatives enhance the value of brownfield sites and adjacent properties. In 2023 alone, EGLE granted $31.3 million in brownfield incentives to 88 projects across Michigan.
