Detroit Honors Local Multifamily Developer Village Green

By Dees Stribling, Contributing Editor

Detroit—The City of Detroit has honored multifamily specialist Village Green for its efforts in revitalizing the apartment market in the city’s urban core. The award was presented at the grand opening of the redeveloped Renaissance City Apartments, a property formerly known as Millender Center.

The Detroit-based Village Green recently completed the refurbishment of the 338-unit apartment building across from the Renaissance Center, a major office complex in downtown Detroit. The property originally opened in 1985 as the Millender Center, named after the late Robert L. Millender, an attorney, a rights activist and political campaigner in Detroit.

Attending the ceremony were Brenda Jones, president of the city council, Judge B. Pennie Millender, Patricia Millender and Village Green CEO Jonathan Holtzman. “The market and community success of our first redevelopment at Detroit City Apartments and now here at Renaissance City tell us as a company, city and country that Detroit is on the right path,” Holtzman said during the event. “My grandfather who started the company here 95 years ago always pushed these and we will continue that as we help revitalize the city.”

Common amenities at Renaissance City Apartments include 24-hour conceige services, a fitness center, and a rooftop tennis court and running track. The property has skyway access to the Renaissance Center and the City County Building, and there is an on-site Detroit People Mover Station. The complex also features an attached parking garage and some units have balconies.

Last year Village Green redeveloped the 351-unit Detroit City Apartments, formerly the Washington Square apartments, and it’s currently in the early planning stages for a new apartment property at Grand Circus Park on the site where the Statler Hotel once stood. In 2012, MHN named Village Green the Best Development Company of the Year.