Detroit's Plan for 1,000 New Homes Goes to the Planning Commission Thursday

Detroit wants 1,000 new homes built on its vacant lots by 2031. The first step, a set of zoning changes, goes before the City Planning Commission on Thursday, November 5.

Mayor Mary Sheffield announced the plan, called Project 1,000, on October 28 at a news conference in the Northwest Goldberg neighborhood. The goal averages out to about 250 new homes a year. That is more than double the city's recent pace. Detroit counted 84 new units in one- to four-unit buildings in 2024 and 114 in 2025.

The plan has three parts. The first is zoning. Today, new homes in certain residential districts generally need a lot at least 5,000 square feet and 50 feet wide. Many of the city's vacant parcels are smaller than that, so builders either buy extra land or ask for a variance. A proposal called Rise and Restore would allow homes on smaller lots and would open more residential areas to duplexes, triplexes, townhomes and four-unit buildings without a separate zoning approval.

The second part is a library of pre-approved home designs. These are plans that have already cleared city review. The city expects to release them in early to mid-2027. A builder who uses one should spend less time and money getting permits.

The third part is land. The Housing and Revitalization Department will work with the Detroit Land Bank Authority to bundle vacant lots, offer them to developers and help cover construction costs with subsidies. A pilot is already underway in North Corktown using federal housing funds. The city plans two more requests for development proposals in 2027.

Several key details are still missing. The city has not released subsidy amounts, a total budget, Land Bank lot prices, or how many homes will be priced for lower-income buyers. It also has not said which neighborhoods come first. The stated goal is to build in every council district where residents want new housing. City officials say they are looking for additional state funding.

The zoning changes are only the start. After the Planning Commission, they still need City Council approval, and the earliest they could take effect is the first quarter of 2027. Major renovations of vacant homes will be tracked separately and will not count toward the 1,000-home goal.

The stakes are large. Detroit has an estimated 120,000 vacant lots, and the Land Bank owns close to half of them. If the zoning changes pass, a small builder could put a duplex or a single home on one city lot without going through the variance process that has slowed infill projects for years. Builders should watch three things: the final lot-size standards in the ordinance, the terms of the 2027 Land Bank solicitations and the size of the subsidies.

The plan also fits a statewide problem. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority estimates Michigan is short about 97,000 housing units.

The Mitten Mile will follow Thursday's hearing and report any changes before the proposal moves to City Council.

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