“The Deco” Project

BD Development Advisors is excited to be working on the redevelopment of the former Beauty School at 16703 E. Warren Avenue. The development team has affectionately named the project “The Deco”, as an homage to its Art Deco inspired features and unique brick façade. BD is a joint venture partnership between Damon Dickerson and Brandon Hodges, both friends and real estate development professionals who live on Detroit’s East Side. The duo met through the Building Community Value’s Real Estate Fundamentals Class, where Joe Rashid of EWDC and Council Member Latisha Johnson have also been participants.

The development team proposes a substantial renovation of the property resulting in a mix of 6-9 new rental apartments and ground floor retail space. Given the interior condition of the property and its exposure to the elements over the years, a gut rehabilitation will be undertaken, featuring new roof structure and membrane, all new electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems, new parking lot, and white boxed retail space.

With hopes of activating a portion of the ground floor with a food and beverage tenant, the development team will be embarking on a very intentional community engagement process in partnership with In the Business of Food, a local food justice consulting firm led by Chef Ederique Goudia. Through a mix of digital surveying, in person charettes, and data research, the team will gather rich insights from the Community to narrow down potential food operators and concepts that can thrive on the E. Warren corridor. The culminating event will be a community taste testing where potential retailers can mix and mingle with neighbors and have their cuisines sampled.

Construction for the project is anticipated to start in the 2nd quarter of 2023, with completion by year end.