The historic, abandoned Fisher Body auto plant is set for a major transformation and recently received a $1 million grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to help with cleanup.
Built in 1919 and abandoned since 1993, the building will be redeveloped into an apartment building called “The Fisher Lofts.”
The new apartment building will include 433 market-rate and affordable units, 28,000 square feet of commercial/retail space, and 15,000 square feet of co-working space. Officials said at least 20 percent of the units will be at or below 80 percent of the area’s median income.
“For almost 30 years, Fisher Body 21 has loomed over the I-94 and I-75 interchange as an international poster child for blight and abandonment in our city,” Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in a news release when the project was first announced. “For much of that time, demolition seemed like the likely outcome because the idea of finding a developer willing to renovate and reuse it seemed impossible.”
The building will also feature a quarter-mile walking track, indoor lounge, fitness center, dog areas, and relaxing space. Outside the building will be 130 parking spaces, with a total of more than 700 spaces.
The project will create 80 full-time jobs and is expected to be completed by summer 2026. 📸: McIntosh Poris Associates
