Detroit City FC seeks community input ahead of new soccer stadium set to open in… | Latest Lifestyle News
Detroit City FC is kicking off a series of meetings to gather community input for its new soccer stadium development — projected to open in time for the 2027 season — at the site of the former Southwest Detroit Hospital.
The club will host its first Community Benefits Ordinance meeting Thursday, Aug. 21, at the Mexicantown Mercado at 2826 Bagley St., outlining details of the project, which affects Detroit’s Southwest and Corktown areas. The benefits process is intended to engage residents and stakeholders to identify neighborhood priorities and address any potential negative effects on residents.
“The stadium isn’t just for soccer — it’s for Detroit. As longtime Detroit residents, we see this as a chance to transform a historic property, create jobs, add to the rich fabric of our neighborhood, and give back to the community we love,” said Sean Mann, co-owner and chief executive officer of Detroit City FC, in a statement.
Detroit City FC says it has acquired the site of the former Southwest Detroit Hospital in Corktown to build a future soccer stadium.
At least seven public meetings are set, which will include establishing a Neighborhood Advisory Council early on. Detroit residents who are at least 18 years old and live in the impact area are eligible to serve on the council, and will work directly with the developer to generate the benefits package. The final agreement will then go through Detroit City Council for approval.
Meetings will begin at 6 p.m. at Mexicantown CDC Mercado, or remotely via Zoom, which requires online registration. View the meeting schedule here.
The impact area is bounded by Martin Luther King Boulevard to the north; the Lodge/M-10 Freeway, Sixth Steet, Trumbull, Eighth St., and Rosa Parks Boulevard to the east; the Detroit River and West Jefferson Avenue to the south; and West Grand Boulevard to the west. The impact area includes all or parts of the Corktown, Hubbard Richard, Mexicantown, North Corktown, Chadsey Condon, Central Southwest and West Side Industrial neighborhoods.Officials project economic activity will spike in the area as a result of the development, which will also generate hundreds of construction jobs.
“Mexicantown Community Development Corporation proudly supports the Detroit Football Club’s new stadium as a catalyst for economic growth and community revitalization. This project will create jobs, boost local business, and reflect our commitment to inclusiveness, opportunity, and a vibrant future for Southwest Detroit,” said Ray Lozano, executive director of the organization, which aims to foster economic development opportunities in Southwest.
Detroit City FC officials are planning to unveil the name of the upcoming $150 million stadium at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at Mexicantown Mercado. The club is seeking “limited public support” for site demolition, remediation, streetscape enhancements and reimbursements for other components of the project. Demolition of the old hospital was initially set to begin July, according to the project proposal.
Club officials said the basement was flooded with nearly 2 million gallons of water and they expected to begin filtering and draining it in May. Mann told the Free Press on Monday that they “just finished the removal of the water from the structure and are now moving forward with actual demolition of the structure.”
The 15,000-seat stadium will include guest suites, event space flexibility for concerts and other sporting events, and a parking garage for year-round use. The project scope also includes affordable housing with retail and commercial space along 20th Street, according to the project proposal.
Mayor Mike Duggan praised the start of the process in a post on X on Aug. 8, also plugging various transformations across the city.
“Over the past decade, we’ve transformed vacant, long-neglected structures into affordable housing, tech hubs, and auto plants employing thousands of Detroiters,” Duggan said. “Today is no different, as the Community Benefits process is set to begin for the redevelopment of the former Southwest Detroit Hospital into the Detroit City Football Club soccer stadium.”
Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit City FC seeks community input ahead of soccer stadium development
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