La Joya Gardens grand opening brings new affordable housing and retail space to Southwest Detroit

New $25 million mixed-use development offers 53 residential units, including 42 affordable and 11 market-rate apartments, with vibrant community and retail spaces.

Today, the City of Detroit, along with co-developers Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) and Cinnaire Solutions celebrated the grand opening of La Joya Gardens, a transformative mixed-use, mixed-income development located at 4000 W. Vernor Highway. The event highlighted a collaborative effort to provide affordable housing, retail opportunities, and community space in Southwest Detroit. Additional key partners, including Invest Detroit, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), and the Detroit Housing Commission, joined the celebration.

"What had been a vacant lot along the main commercial corridor in Southwest Detroit is now a beautiful mixed-use building that adds a significant number of affordable housing units for this area," said Mayor Mike Duggan. "This is how we are making sure that as our neighborhoods come back, longtime residents know they can afford to stay and enjoy this revitalization."

Community-Driven Development

La Joya Gardens represents a nearly $25 million investment and features 53 residential units — 42 designated as affordable for individuals earning 30% to 80% of the area median income (AMI) — and 11 market-rate apartments. Rents for the affordable units start at approximately $540 per month for a one-bedroom. The development also includes over 6,000 square feet of retail space, which will house local businesses catering to the neighborhood’s needs.

“The opening of La Joya Gardens is a milestone for Southwest Detroit, showcasing the power of collaboration and the resilience of our community,” said Laura Chavez-Wazeerud-Din, president & CEO, SDBA. “This development goes beyond providing affordable housing and retail spaces. It creates opportunities for connection and growth that reflect the spirit of Southwest Detroit. We’re proud to see this once-vacant block transformed into a vibrant hub of activity and opportunity, and we’re excited for the lasting impact it will have on our residents, entrepreneurs, and local businesses.”

Designed by SITIO Architecture + Urbanism, La Joya Gardens revitalizes an entire city block along W. Vernor Highway that had remained vacant for over a decade. The project is part of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund (SNF), a public-private partnership designed to support community-driven projects. The SNF, with assistance from PNC Bank, funded the extensive community engagement process that shaped La Joya Gardens. Over 200 residents contributed to decisions about the project’s name, design, and amenities.

"La Joya Gardens is a shining example of what can be achieved when public and private organizations come together with the community to create something meaningful,” said Christopher Laurent, President of Cinnaire Solutions, codeveloper of La Joya Gardens. “From its name to its design, this project reflects the voice of the people of Southwest Detroit and their vision for a thriving, inclusive neighborhood."

The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured remarks from community leaders, including:

Mike Duggan, Mayor, City of Detroit
Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Councilmember, City of Detroit
Rebecca Labov, Associate Director of Housing Development, Housing & Revitalization Department, City of Detroit
Amy Hovey, CEO and Executive Director, MSHDA
Maureen Icke-Anway, Senior Vice President – Impact, Invest Detroit
Christopher Laurent, President, Cinnaire Solutions
Tonia Patino, Board Chair, SDBA
Laura Chavez-Wazeerud-Din, President & CEO, SDBA
Maria Salinas, Executive Director, Congress of Communities
Chaplain Mike Dexter, DPD 4^th Precinct, Detroit Police Chaplain Corps, City of Detroit

A Jewel in Southwest Detroit

Named "La Joya," meaning “jewel” in Spanish, the development offers 47 one-bedroom and 6 two-bedroom apartments, a 1,500-square-foot flexible community space, and a landscaped retail plaza. Four street-facing retail spaces and a 500-square-foot café provide opportunities for small businesses and enhance the area’s vibrancy.

Cafe Clark, the first retailer at La Joya Gardens, is a welcoming coffee shop led by longtime Southwest Detroit residents Meli and Eduardo Salas. Drawing on their deep roots in the neighborhood and their Mexican heritage, the café offers a traditional coffee menu, light breakfast items, and a lunch selection featuring snacks, salads, sandwiches, and favorites from other local businesses.

Funding and Partners

Funding for La Joya Gardens included:

$12.4 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit investments from Cinnaire
$3.8 million from MSHDA
$2.5 million from the City of Detroit
$1.6 million from Invest Detroit
$500,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) Award from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI); sponsored by Flagstar Bank
$500,000 Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) from the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC)
15 Project Based Vouchers (PBVs) from the Detroit Housing Commission

“Support for La Joya Gardens is a perfect example of our priorities at MSHDA" said Amy Hovey, MSHDA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. "We are proud to finance and support developments in Detroit and statewide that expand access to truly affordable housing and empower individuals and families to thrive in the neighborhoods they choose."

La Joya Gardens is the latest project supported by the Strategic Neighborhood Fund (SNF), a partnership between the City of Detroit, Invest Detroit, neighborhood residents and corporate donors. SNF funds community-driven projects, each of which begins by soliciting input from residents. SNF, with assistance from PNC Bank, funded the community engagement process for the project, and provided $1.6 million in gap funding, which supports the deep affordability of the units.

Investment in SNF neighborhoods has been substantial. Since its inception in 2016, SNF has invested $262 million, resulting in 10 neighborhood framework plans, 78k SF of commercial space constructed, 378 total housing units and 86 home rehabs funded, 12 park and greenway projects completed with 4 more in progress, and 12 streetscape projects.

“Through the Strategic Neighborhood Fund and support from partners like PNC Bank, we were able to amplify the voices of over 200 local residents, ensuring that their insights and aspirations shaped every aspect of this development," said Maureen Icke-Anway, Senior Vice President, Impact, Invest Detroit. "Over $30,000 in grant funds supported these robust community engagement efforts, including door-to-door surveys and hosting resident meetings at local community spaces such as Armando’s Mexican Restaurant and First Latin American Baptist Church.”

Developers Southwest Detroit and Cinnaire Solutions partnered with O’Brien Construction as the general contractors, 511 Design and w/Purpose for community engagement and owner representation.