A Southwest Detroit commercial district earns national honor

February 16, 2026

Southwest Detroit's Bagley-West Vernor corridor, recognized as the commercial center of Mexicantown, has received official designation as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. The designation resulted from a 2025 nomination by Detroit's Historic Designation Advisory Board, supported by a $50,000 federal Underrepresented Communities grant that funded research documenting Latin American contributions to the area over the past century. Local business owners, including families who have operated establishments for decades, view the recognition as both overdue validation and an economic opportunity that could attract more visitors.

Who is affected

Latinx community members and Latin American families in Southwest Detroit
Longtime business owners in the Bagley-West Vernor area, including Yadira Lugo (Artistic Diseños), Juanita Franco (La Gloria Bakery), and Alfonso Avila Jr. (El Rancho Mexican restaurant)
Detroit City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board
Neighborhood residents of Mexicantown/Southwest Detroit
Future visitors and customers, including suburban residents and Canadians

What action is being taken

The Bagley-West Vernor area is being formally listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Bagley-West Vernor Historic District. The designation is officially recognizing the century's worth of Latin American contributions to Southwest Detroit.

Why it matters

This designation validates and officially recognizes the significant contributions of generations of Latinx families and business owners who built and sustained the neighborhood over more than a century. It diversifies Detroit's historic record by celebrating underrepresented Latinx histories and provides formal acknowledgment that Latin American community members have been integral to Detroit for a long time. The designation also makes the area eligible for federal preservation support, state grant opportunities, and tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings, while potentially attracting more visitors and increasing business for local establishments.

What's next

The designated sites become part of the National Register Archives (a public, searchable database) and become eligible for various forms of federal preservation support, state grant opportunities, and tax benefits. Tax credits can be used on expenses of approved projects to rehabilitate contributing buildings within the historic district. Business owners anticipate increased customer traffic from suburban visitors and Canadians, with potential for adjacent Southwest Detroit communities between Livernois Avenue and Campbell Street to pursue similar recognition.

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com