Joe Louis Greenway brings hopes for investment — and concerns about affordability

July 16, 2026

The Joe Louis Greenway, a planned 29-mile pathway through Detroit and three neighboring municipalities, is spurring housing market changes and mixed reactions in northwest Detroit neighborhoods like Russell Woods. Home prices in areas along the greenway route have risen dramatically—one property sold for $44,000 in 2015 and was listed for $425,000 in 2025—as buyers are attracted to improved walkability and anticipated development. While many residents welcome the infrastructure investment after years of neighborhood decline, others worry about displacement of long-term, low-income residents and the arrival of businesses that don't serve existing community members.

Who is affected

Current residents of northwest Detroit neighborhoods along the greenway route: Russell Woods, Dexter-Linwood, Nardin Park (Sullivan Area), Davison, and Oakman Boulevard areas
Low-income and long-term residents facing potential displacement due to rising housing costs and property taxes
Approximately 12,300 residents in the Census tract of the northwest corner (94% Black) who experienced a 21% population decrease since 2010
Homebuyers like Ryan Marie Davis, Mark Head, and others purchasing properties in the area
Existing homeowners like Melvin Chuney who own multiple properties and Eddie Respress's family who have lived in the area for over 50 years
Residents of Hamtramck, Highland Park, and Dearborn where the greenway will also pass
Local businesses along Dexter Avenue and surrounding areas
The Detroit Land Bank Authority, which owns 2,323 residential properties and 52% of vacant lots in the three neighborhoods along the northwest section

What action is being taken

Construction on the Joe Louis Greenway that began in 2017 is ongoing
The city is currently accepting development proposals for mixed-use retail space in the area
Federal funding is being used to beautify Dexter Avenue
$2.5 million in Strategic Neighborhood Fund grants are supporting park improvements, business pop-ups, cultural murals, and eight front-facing facade improvements for local businesses
The city has secured $220 million toward the $300 million project
Realtor Heather Dell is working with several homebuyers in and near Russell Woods

Why it matters

The Joe Louis Greenway represents a significant test of whether Detroit can revitalize declining neighborhoods without displacing existing residents. The northwest neighborhoods along the route have experienced decades of population loss (21% since 2010), property value depreciation (38%), and disinvestment, with median home values at $56,883 in 2021. The project matters because it could either provide improved mobility, connectivity, safety, and economic opportunities for current residents, or repeat the patterns seen in Atlanta's Beltline, where property values and rents skyrocketed, pushing out long-term residents despite later mitigation efforts. The outcome will affect thousands of predominantly Black residents and could set a precedent for how major infrastructure investments can balance revitalization with affordability and community preservation in post-industrial American cities.

What's next

The city anticipates 15 miles of the greenway, including existing trails like the Dequindre Cut and Detroit RiverWalk, will be completed by the end of 2026
The entire Joe Louis Greenway is expected to be complete by 2030
The city is reviewing development proposals for mixed-use retail space, with preference for developers who rehab existing buildings rather than demolish structures
A public-private partnership in Atlanta is on track to provide 5,600 moderately affordable housing units along the Beltline by the end of 2030 (comparative example)
Atlanta is pushing to add a light rail along the Beltline (though no light rail is proposed for the Joe Louis Greenway)

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com