A new chapter has begun in Corktown with the unveiling of Left Field—a mixed-income apartment building located on Cochrane Street near Michigan Avenue, right on the grounds once occupied by Tiger Stadium. Out of the building’s 60 apartments, 48 are dedicated to affordable housing. These units are reserved for households earning up to 80% of the local median income, with 29 of them further supported by rental assistance that caps rent at 30% of a tenant’s income.
City officials celebrated the opening on Wednesday, marking a significant step in addressing Corktown’s long-standing housing affordability challenges. Julie Schneider, Director of Detroit’s Housing and Revitalization Department, explained that the project was in the planning stages even before the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when Corktown had only 87 affordable units available in the larger neighborhood, city leaders recognized the urgent need for more accessible housing options. “We had to take bold and timely action to ensure every part of our city benefits from affordable housing,” Schneider stated.
The Left Field apartments have been available since December, and the units have been snapped up rapidly by new residents, according to Mike Essian, Senior Vice President of American Community Developers—the firm behind the development. The project was partly funded by $35 million received from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhoods Implementation funds in 2021 and 2023, a program designed to foster mixed-income communities. Essian pointed out that the development blurs the line between market-rate and affordable units, ensuring that all residents share equal access to high-quality housing.
Residents can choose from a variety of apartment layouts, including studios, as well as one, two, and three-bedroom options. For those qualifying for the lowest income bracket—earning 40% or less of the area median—the rent for a one-bedroom unit starts at just $710 a month.
As part of a broader housing strategy in Corktown, plans are also underway to tear down and rebuild the Clement Kern Gardens subsidized housing project on Bagley, further reinforcing the city’s commitment to affordable living.
In a creative nod to the area’s storied past, city officials replaced a traditional ribbon-cutting with a display of baseball pitches thrown in front of the new building. Tiger Stadium, which once hosted the Detroit Tigers from 1912 to 1999—and even served as a venue for the Detroit Lions before the rise of the Pontiac Silverdome—was demolished between 2008 and 2009. Today, the old baseball field lives on as Corner Ballpark, a multi-use facility and home to the Detroit Police Athletic League.
For longtime local resident Misty Cox, the development is deeply personal. “Growing up, I’d watch games at Tiger Stadium, and now I can open my blinds and see the field where baseball is played—it’s like a dream come true,” she shared, reflecting on cherished memories of the historic site.