The Colony and Fisher Arms apartments at 9303 East Jefferson in Detroit has had a troubled past.
For instance, in November of 2013, more than 150 law enforcement officers from the Detroit Police Department, Michigan State Police, and the FBI raided the apartment building and arrested 32 residents. That’s after receiving about 600 calls for service at the building in that year.
But on Friday, Mayor Mike Duggan as well as the developers were showing off a very different story.
The new owners have spent four years renovating the building to make it more safe and secure for the residents, and they were showing it off to media and community members on Friday.
The building now has 161 apartments. Nine of those are efficiency units, 104 one bedroom units, and 48 are two bedroom apartments.
It was renovated through a partnership with Cinnaire and Chesapeake Community Advisors at a cost of $24 million that was paid for through a variety of funding sources including Federal Historic Tax Credits, Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, an FHA loan, a renewal of a Section 8 rental subsidy, Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis Affordable Housing Program Funds as well as the contribution of vacant city-owned property that was used for parking.
All of the apartments have new paint, carpet, central air, and new appliances. The public areas of the building have also been updated. In the lobbies, the historic touches shine.
With all of these changes, there is also a new name. The apartments will now be called River Crest Apartments. This is the third name for the buildings since 1924.
The laundry rooms are clean with updated washing machines and dryers. There is also a mail room, offices, community room, security cameras, and secure fenced parking. There will also be a support office that will have community computers for residents to use.
“There is no question that this one is a little personal. I have been watching the renovation going on, and you can just see the transformation in this building,” said Mayor Mike Duggan.
The apartment building has received a Section 8 contract for twenty years.
“We had about 140 residents here but through the raid we lost many. We ended up having 50 families qualified for this tax credit,” said Dave Prout, president of Chesapeake Community Advisors. “They stuck with us through the construction. They moved maybe once or twice and lived through the construction.”
“The project has taken on a life of it’s own. It has changed the residents lives,” said Dave Prout of Chesapeake Community Advisors. “But it has also changed the team members who have worked with me to put this together.”
Below are some more photos of the River Crest Apartments.
And here’s a map of the location: