$29.3M Housing Development Opens, Delivering 105 Affordable Senior Homes in Detroit

November 20, 2025

A $29. 3 million affordable senior housing development has opened on the site of Michigan's only Historically Black College and University in Detroit's northwest side. The Dr. Violet T.

Who is affected

Seniors in Detroit seeking affordable housing (prospective residents earning $20,160 to $69,120 annually)
Dr. Violet Ponders (granddaughter of Dr. Lewis) and the Lewis family
Community members in Detroit's northwest side
Development partners: Wallick Communities and Presbyterian Villages of Michigan (PVM)
City and state officials including Mayor Mike Duggan, City Council Member Angela Whitfield Calloway, and State Representative Regina Weiss

What action is being taken

The Dr. Violet T. Lewis Village is accepting applications for the 105 apartments through phone (313-270-9150) or the Presbyterian Villages of Michigan website
Presbyterian Villages of Michigan is operating the property with on-site management

Why it matters

This project addresses Detroit's need for affordable senior housing while preserving an important piece of the city's Black educational history. The site once housed the Lewis College of Business, which provided business and clerical training to generations of Black students during an era of systemic exclusion from mainstream educational institutions. The development transforms a long-vacant property into 105 income-restricted homes, demonstrating how historic preservation can be combined with modern community needs while honoring the legacy of Dr. Violet T. Lewis's groundbreaking work in Black education and economic empowerment.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle