Detroit City FC proposes $2.27M in community benefits
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A rendering of Detroit City FC's new stadium. Image: Courtesy of DCFC
Detroit City FC has offered $2.27 million worth of community benefits in response to a list of demands from residents near its Corktown stadium project.
Why it matters: DCFC is required to meet with residents and reach a community benefits agreement to secure the city's approval for the $198 million stadium development, which is expected to open in 2027.
Catch up quick: The soccer stadium is the latest Detroit proposal to trigger the city's Community Benefits Ordinance, applied to projects valued at $75 million or more that receive at least $1 million in property tax abatements, or that get city land worth at least $1 million.
- DCFC CEO Sean Mann and members of a Neighborhood Advisory Council have discussed the development at weekly public meetings since August. The latest negotiations were revealed at Thursday's meeting.
- The team is seeking tax incentives worth a combined $88 million over 30 years.
Zoom in: DCFC has been amenable to many of the council's 57 requests, such as working with the Detroit Bird Alliance on bird-friendly design features and dedicating stadium retail space to small businesses.
- Other demands, including a $1 ticket surcharge for local home repairs, have met resistance.
The latest: Instead of the surcharge, DCFC offered to contribute $100,000 annually for 12 years to organizations specializing in habitable homes, as well as cultural initiatives and youth programming.
- Other community benefits include $200,000 for a small business loan fund; $50,000 for public art; $100,000 for a mini soccer field; and a 12-year annual allotment of free tickets valued at $720,000.
State of play: The Neighborhood Advisory Council will continue discussing the proposals before members meet next Thursday.
- Mann told Axios after Thursday's meeting that the team is "on the same page" with the neighborhood council on the monetary contributions.
- Once the two sides reach an agreement, it's subject to City Council approval.
What they're saying: Council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero told Axios she's pleased that DCFC agreed to many of the neighborhood requests.
- The ticket surcharge debate, however, strengthened her desire to push for a new city entertainment tax that can be applied to more than DCFC soccer games.
- "Quite frankly, we get a lot more if we're going and doing the same kind of tax gathering in the other arenas, in theaters," Santiago-Romero said.