New construction of single-family homes is exceedingly rare in Detroit, but a recent project could be an indicator of whether that's about to change.

The big picture: Detroit issued only 18 permits for new house construction last year. Among those testing the waters of new-build demand is developer Greatwater Homes, which recently completed three homes in East Village.

• It has two more nearing completion and plans 18 additional homes in the area.

State of play: Mayor Mike Duggan called Greatwater's development "the beginning of a trend over the next couple years … I think you will see more and more people building market-rate houses in neighborhoods."

By the numbers: Greatwater's homes are priced at $339,000, $439,000 and $459,000, advertising amenities including garages and air conditioning. The developer aims to give buyers who don't want to undertake the difficulty and unpredictability of a fixer-upper an option, Greatwater co-founder Matt Temkin tells Axios.

• "[The project] was a risk, but our goal was to deal with that risk by just making a great product, and leave it out there for the market to respond, and it did," Temkin says.
• Two of the first three homes have sold, and a made-to-order home has been presold.

Some real estate professionals in Detroit are monitoring this development closely.

What they're saying: If successful, it could "drastically change the investment landscape in the city" by creating a rush of similar projects, says Sami Abdallah, a Detroit real estate investor and owner of Re/Max City Centre in Southfield.

• On the flip side, though, Greatwater's homes aren't "very affordable," which could present challenges, Abdallah tells Axios.

Context: Preserving old homes by rehabbing them is an essential part of retaining neighborhoods' culture.

• New construction is also a "necessary component" of community development to fill in vacant land, says Angela Carlberg, senior director of community development ecosystem building for Community Development Advocates of Detroit.
• Yet, affordability and other factors remain major concerns. "It's a really big leap to presume that what's being built, as far as new construction, is going to serve who's here," Carlberg tells Axios.

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Detroit City Football Club wants to demolish an abandoned Southwest hospital for the site of the club's "forever home."

Driving the news: The club held an owners meeting at Supergeil in Corktown on Monday to celebrate plans for a new stadium and answer questions from part owners.

• Detroit City announced last week after Crain's broke the news that the club plans to build a soccer stadium at the site of the abandoned Southwest Detroit Hospital.

Catch up quick: The team, founded in 2012, played its matches at Cass Tech before moving to Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.

• Executives said bringing a new stadium to Southwest is "the ultimate way to give back to the city."
• The hospital, which opened in 1974, closed in 1991 and has been abandoned for two decades after it reopened as United Community Hospital from 1997-2006.

What they're saying: "We took a different approach to how you build a professional sports team in America and we're viewing how you build a stadium in the same light as well," CEO Sean Mann said.

Zoom in: Executives said they hope the stadium works as a bridge to connect communities. The stadium on the 7-acre site will unite activity on Michigan Avenue and in Mexicantown so that match days involve second places, they said.

Between the lines: But club officials said they have been careful not to overdeliver.

• "We're sports fans in this town and we understand that you don't talk about things until they're done right and until they're going to happen," chief commercial officer Alex Wright said.

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🐯 The Detroit Zoo finally revealed the new design for its nearly century-old water tower, as well as a full rebrand, after more than two years in the works. (WXYZ)

🥙 Omar Anani, owner of popular east-side restaurant Saffron De Twah, plans to open another restaurant and offer subsidized housing above it on East Warren Avenue. (BridgeDetroit)

🚨 U of M police and security removed a tent encampment protesting Israel yesterday, citing fire hazards. A group of student organizers reported three arrests. (Free Press)

U of M's national title defense this fall will be without many of last year's star players and former coach Jim Harbaugh.

The big picture: College football programs across the country are seeing big changes this offseason.

• Players are changing schools more frequently due to a combination of relaxed transfer rules and their ability to get paid through NIL deals.

State of play: The big question in Ann Arbor is who will succeed quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.

• The frontrunner is junior Alex Orji, whose mobility is reminiscent of that of Denard Robinson, the Free Press reports.

The latest: The Wolverines tapped into the transfer portal, adding four defensive backs in a three-day span last week, the Detroit News reports.

What's next: The season opener against Fresno State is Aug. 31 at 7:30pm at Michigan Stadium.

• Alcoholic beverages will be on sale inside the stadium.

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A fast-casual breakfast franchise called Effin Egg plans to open in the former Treat Dreams building in Midtown in August. The chain's closest current locations to Michigan are in Illinois.

• Egg sandwiches are the main event, but there also are doughnut balls, waffles, breakfast tacos and burritos.