The Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan brought comfort and safety to Southwest Detroit through the Delray Home Improvement Program, with free home repairs provided to 106 residences.
The four-year program offered residences near the US Port of Entry up to $20,000 (USD) for home improvements or repairs, which resulted in 55 roofs repaired or replaced, 44 HVAC systems improved or replaced, 19 exterior doors and 61 windows were replaced.
“I couldn’t open or close the old wooden windows I had,” said a program participant. “I feel safe with all the work they did. This was like all my Christmases and birthdays put together.”
The Gordie Howe International Bridge project team partnered with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Detroit (LISC Detroit) who oversaw the construction management services performed by Bridging Communities, Inc., VE Properties and Developments, and qualified subcontractors.
The $4 million (CDN) initiative was the largest investment included in the Community Benefits Plan and was based on community feedback heard during the early planning stages of the project.
“Resident engagement is a cornerstone of the project’s Community Benefits Plan, and the inclusion of the Delray Home Improvement Program reflects this commitment. We are proud of the initiative’s results, which are helping to increase safety, efficiency and comfort for homeowners at no cost to them,” said Charl van Niekerk, CEO of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.
Another program participant stated they no longer worry in the winter about their furnace and noted the overall improvements to the area. “It is nice seeing all the new roofs being placed on homes in the neighborhood, giving the area a brighter future.”
The Community Benefits Plan is directly investing $23 million (CDN) into the Delray/Southwest Detroit and Sandwich/west Windsor communities. The funding has supported more than 50 initiatives in Delray/Southwest Detroit and Sandwich/west Windsor throughout the construction phase.
