Gesu Senior Housing in the University District: 36 Affordable Apartments for People 55 and Older, Under Construction at 17181 Birchcrest Drive, Detroit
Quick answerAs of October 7, 2026, Gesu Senior Housing, 17181 Birchcrest Drive in Detroit's University District, is under construction and not yet taking applications. It will have 36 income-restricted apartments for people 55 and older, 32 one-bedrooms and four two-bedrooms, eight of them with project-based vouchers. The developer plans to open applications in spring or summer 2027 and expects tenants around September 2027. It is taking inquiries by email now.
Last checked: October 7, 2026, against Gesu Parish's senior housing page and the developer's presentations posted there; the City of Detroit's release of June 17, 2026, environmental notice of February 13, 2026, multifamily housing dataset and building permits; the Detroit Housing Commission's project-based voucher list; and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority's (MSHDA) 2026 income and rent limits and payment standards. Nothing here is an offer of an apartment: the building has no leasing office yet.
- 36apartments, 32 one-bedrooms and four two-bedrooms, all income-restricted
- 55the minimum age for everyone in the household
- 8apartments with project-based vouchers, where rent follows income
- September 2027about when the developer expects the first tenants
- Spring or summer 2027when the developer plans to open applications
- $58,720the most one person can earn at the 80% level in 2026
What Gesu Senior Housing Is and Who Is Building It
Gesu Senior Housing joins two buildings on the Gesu Parish campus: the parish center, built in 1938 as a convent, which is being renovated, and a new two-story building beside it.
- Developers: Gesu Parish Detroit and MHT Housing, a nonprofit founded in 1990 that the City says "owns and/or manages more than 165 affordable housing communities statewide."
- Manager: the developer's 2024 presentation says the site will be "staffed by MHT Management during all work hours, with 24/7 on-call security."
- Cost: $14.6 million in the City's release; the City's notice lists $14,256,630 in funding.
- Money from: tax credit equity from CREA ($9.5 million), a mortgage from Independent Bank ($2 million), about $1.53 million in City HOME funds, a Federal Home Loan Bank loan and a deferred developer fee.
- Tax credit: the parish's page reported MSHDA's approval on January 29, 2025, with a credit of $1,080,000.
| Building | Address on the permit | Apartments | Permit | Issued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renovated parish center | 17180 Oak Drive | 13: nine one-bedrooms, four two-bedrooms | BLD2025-02979 | April 6, 2026 |
| New two-story building | 17181 Birchcrest Drive | 23 one-bedrooms | BLD2025-02912 | April 13, 2026 |
What it means: 13 and 23 make 36. All four two-bedrooms are in the old building, which the City's notice says gets "elevator service".
Source: City of Detroit building permits, read October 7, 2026: "Change of Occupancy/Use to Multi-Family Dwelling (13 Units, 9 One Bed/1 Bath, 4 Two Bed/1 Bath)" and "Construct New 2 Story 23 Unit (1 Bed/1 Bath) Multi-Family Dwelling".
- June 5, 2023the parish holds its first meeting on the idea.
- October 2023 to February 2024four community meetings; the plan shrinks from 46 apartments and three stories to 36 and two.
- July 25, 2024City Council hears the rezoning of the parish's land.
- January 29, 2025the parish reports MSHDA's approval of the tax credit.
- February 13, 2026the City publishes its finding of no significant environmental impact.
- April 6 and 13, 2026the City issues the two building permits.
- June 17, 2026the mayor, the parish and MHT celebrate the start of construction.
- Spring or summer 2027MHT "plans to launch the housing application".
- September 2027MHT "anticipates that the development will begin welcoming tenants in or around" then.
What it means: applications are still months away. The parish's page is the place the dates will change first.
Source: the developer's question-and-answer sheet and presentations on the parish's page; parish page, updated May 2026; City permits; City environmental notice; City release.
Where 17181 Birchcrest Drive Is and How to Get Around
The site is on the parish campus between Oak Drive and Birchcrest Drive, just north of McNichols Road and "directly across from the University of Detroit Mercy campus", the City says. The ZIP code is 48221 and the City Council district is District 2.
| Stop | Routes | Straight-line distance |
|---|---|---|
| McNichols & Oak | DDOT 16 Dexter, 29 Linwood and 32 McNichols | 0.09 miles |
| McNichols & Fairfield | DDOT 16 Dexter and 32 McNichols | 0.11 miles |
| Fairfield & McNichols | DDOT 16 Dexter and 29 Linwood | 0.15 miles |
| McNichols & Livernois | DDOT 16, 29 and 32 | 0.17 miles |
| Livernois & Santa Maria | DDOT 16 Dexter and 30 Livernois | 0.19 miles |
What it means: four bus routes stop within a fifth of a mile.
Source: City of Detroit DDOT Bus Stops dataset, read October 7, 2026. Distances are straight-line from the City dataset's point for the site, calculated by VoucherMatch, so the walk is longer.
- Nearby, in the City's words: "the Avenue of Fashion, University of Detroit Mercy, transit routes, neighborhood retail and community amenities."
- Parking: 27 spaces in the developer's 2024 plan, in a new lot at the northeast corner of the site.
- On the campus: the church and Gesu's school stay. The former rectory becomes the parish's offices and is not part of the housing.
Rents and Income Limits at Gesu Senior Housing
No current rent is published. The developer gave figures in 2023 for an earlier, larger plan, and the State's 2026 table sets the ceilings.
| Income level | Apartments | Most 1 person can earn | Most 2 people can earn | State maximum, one-bedroom | State maximum, two-bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 14 | $22,020 | $25,170 | $589 | $708 |
| 40% | 1 | $29,360 | $33,560 | $786 | $944 |
| 80% | 21 | $58,720 | $67,120 | $1,573 | $1,888 |
What it means: these are ceilings, not rents, and the 2027 table will apply when the building opens.
Source: City of Detroit multifamily housing dataset, site HRD12436, last edited October 2, 2026, for the apartment counts; MSHDA, Income and Rent Limits effective May 1, 2026, Wayne County. The State maximum includes utilities the tenant pays.
| Income level | One-bedroom | Two-bedroom |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $400 | $477 |
| 40% | $570 | Not given |
| 80% | $1,174 | $1,405 |
What it means: these are three years old and were never an offer. They show the shape of the pricing: the 80% rent was about three times the 30% rent.
Source: MHT Housing's answers to neighborhood questions of October 3, 2023, posted on the parish's page: "current 2023 monthly rent".
View the data table
| Income level | October 2023 | July 2024 | City dataset, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 16 | 13 | 14 |
| 40% | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 80% | 27 | 20 | 21 |
What it means: in every version more than half the apartments are at the 80% level. In the current one, 15 of 36 are at 30% or 40%.
Source: MHT Housing's October 2023 answers (46 apartments); its City Council presentation of July 25, 2024 (36 apartments); City of Detroit multifamily housing dataset.
- Sizes, in the 2023 answers: 650 square feet for a one-bedroom and 850 for a two-bedroom.
- Occupancy: "a maximum two 'heartbeats' per bedroom", the developer said.
- Fees, deposit and utilities: not published.
Watch outevery person in the household has to be 55 or older. The developer's presentation says "No family members below this age will be allowed residence."
For other counties and household sizes, use the Section 8 income limits tool.
Using a Housing Voucher at Gesu Senior Housing
Eight apartments will have a voucher attached. For the other 28, a 30% or 40% apartment has to cost less than the payment standard, and an 80% apartment may cost more.
- Vouchers attached"eight units supported by Project-Based Vouchers through the Detroit Housing Commission", the City says, under a 20-year agreement.
- Who they are forthe developer's presentation says the commission "requires that these vouchers be used for residents at or below 50% AMI", and that the voucher "caps the rental payment to 30% of the resident's income".
- Not on the list yetthe commission's project-based voucher list had no entry for the building on October 7, 2026.
- Michigan lawa landlord with five or more units may not deny a tenancy "based on the source of income" of a renter (MCL 554.601c). See whether landlords have to accept Section 8.
- State tax-credit ruleMSHDA's compliance manual lists "imposing minimum income requirements for Section 8/HCV participants" as a prohibited practice.
View the data table
| Apartment | Ceiling at 40% | Ceiling at 80% | MSHDA payment standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom | $786 | $1,573 | $1,100 |
| Two-bedroom | $944 | $1,888 | $1,392 |
What it means: the 40% ceilings are $314 and $448 under the standard. The 80% ceilings are $473 and $496 over it, so ask for the actual 80% rent before assuming a voucher covers it.
Source: MSHDA, Income and Rent Limits effective May 1, 2026; MSHDA Housing Choice Voucher Payment Standards effective December 2, 2025, ZIP code 48221, unchanged in the schedule for December 2, 2026. The ceilings and the payment standard all include utilities.
- If the rent is over the standard: you pay the difference, and federal rules bar your agency from approving a new lease if your share would top 40% of your adjusted monthly income (24 CFR 982.508).
- Two agencies issue vouchers in Detroit. The Detroit Housing Commission has not published a 2026 table of its own; HUD's table for fiscal year 2026 lists $1,100 and $1,380 in 48221. See how much Section 8 pays in Detroit and the Detroit Section 8 guide.
- Utilities: who pays them is not published. See how the Section 8 utility allowance works.
How the Rent Ceilings Compare With Rents in ZIP Code 48221
With no current rents, the comparison is between the State's ceilings and what HUD estimates an ordinary apartment rents for in ZIP code 48221.
View the data table
| Apartment | Ceiling at 40% | Ceiling at 80% | HUD fair market rent, ZIP 48221 |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom | $786 | $1,573 | $1,140 |
| Two-bedroom | $944 | $1,888 | $1,430 |
What it means: the 40% ceilings are $354 and $486 under HUD's figures. The 80% ceilings are $433 and $458 over them, so an 80% apartment is a bargain only if it is priced well under its ceiling. The developer's 2023 figure for one, $1,174, was close to today's HUD figure.
Source: MSHDA limits; HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents for fiscal year 2027, in effect since October 1, 2026: HUD's estimate of the 40th-percentile rent in the ZIP code, utilities included.
- In return, if the plans hold: a small senior building on a church campus, with an elevator, staff on site and a bus stop on McNichols.
- Rent data for this ZIP code: see Section 8 rent limits for 48221.
- Apartments nearby: see voucher apartments in 48221, in Bagley and in Palmer Park.
Who the Building Is For and What Is Planned
The building is for people 55 and older with limited incomes. Everything below is a plan: nothing is finished yet.
- Age"exclusively for seniors 55 and older", in the developer's 2024 presentation.
- Neighborhood preferencenone. "Extra weight cannot be given to applicants based on geographic location", the developer told neighbors, citing fair housing law.
- Not public housingit "will be privately owned and operated", the presentation says.
- Old building"community space on the first floor and 13 new apartment units on the first and second floors", with a new elevator.
- New building"a leasing office, additional community space and 23 additional residential units."
- Shared rooms, in the 2023 answers"Community Space, library, green space, chapel, craft room, onsite leasing office, elevators".
- Security"Building will be secured at all times, requiring a key fob for entry."
- Cleanup firstthe City's notice requires asbestos and lead surveys before the renovation and cleanup of contaminants on the site under State oversight.
What it means: the building list is firm, since it is in the permits. The room list is older and may change. What comes inside each apartment has not been published.
Source: City environmental notice of February 13, 2026; MHT Housing's presentation of July 25, 2024 and answers of October 3, 2023.
How to Get on the List Before Gesu Senior Housing Opens
Applications are not open. The developer is collecting names of people who want to hear when they do.
- 1Send an inquiry now.The parish's senior housing page says "MHT Housing is now accepting inquiries regarding possible residency" and gives an MHT email address to write to.
- 2Put three things in the emailthe page asks for the interested person's "name, e-mail address and phone number".
- 3Check age and incomeagainst the tables above, and again when the 2027 limits come out.
- 4Expect a call in 2027."Once you have submitted an inquiry, someone from the property management team will be in touch at that time to share information about the property and the application process."
- 5For a voucher apartment, watch the housing commission's list,which has an entry for each building.
- 6No email?MHT Housing's main number on its site is 248-833-0550, and the parish office is at (313) 862-4400.
- 7Get your documents togetherfrom the checklist below.
- Nowunder construction; inquiries by email.
- Spring or summer 2027the application opens and MHT begins "reviewing prospective tenant information".
- Early fall 2027construction is completed, the City says, with "leasing anticipated following project completion".
- Around September 2027first tenants.
What it means: an inquiry is not an application, and the page does not say it holds a place in line. It gets you told when the application opens.
Source: Gesu Parish senior housing page, updated May 2026; City release of June 17, 2026.
- Government ID. showing each person's date of birth
- Proof of income. Social Security or pension award letters, pay stubs or a tax return
- Social Security cards. for the household
- Bank statements. and other asset records
- Your voucher paperwork,. if you have one
Source: no document list is published for the building. This one is VoucherMatch's, from what a tax-credit building for older renters has to verify. Ask the office for its own when there is one.
What Is Known and What Is Not Yet Published
The count, the age rule, the two buildings and the schedule are public. Current rents are not.
- Known36 apartments for people 55 and older, 32 one-bedrooms and four two-bedrooms; 13 in the renovated parish center and 23 in a new building; eight project-based vouchers; both permits issued in April 2026.
- The income mix has changed twiceas charted above.
- Sources disagree on cost$14.6 million in the City's release, $14,587,690 on the parish's page and $14,256,630 in the City's notice.
- Sources disagree on the lender"a conventional mortgage from Cinnaire" on the parish's page in January 2025; Independent Bank in the City's 2026 notice and release.
- Not publishedcurrent rents, tenant utilities, fees, what is in each apartment, pet and smoking rules, and the exact application date.
Until there is a leasing office, the parish's page and the MHT email address on it are the place to ask.
If You Need an Apartment Sooner
The first tenants are about a year away, so look at buildings that are taking names now.
- Voucher in hand: browse Section 8 apartments in Detroit, or go straight to one-bedrooms.
- No voucher yet: both Detroit voucher waiting lists were closed on October 6, 2026. Check which waiting lists are open and the Wayne County page.
- A senior building by the same developer, with vouchers attached: the housing commission's list on October 7, 2026 included Reverend Holly Residences, 9001 Woodward Avenue, for people 55 and older, with one-bedrooms, "Waitlist: Open" and the number (313) 316-0022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gesu Senior Housing open?
No. The start of construction was celebrated on June 17, 2026. The City expects completion in early fall 2027, and the developer expects the first tenants around September 2027.
How old do you have to be to live at Gesu Senior Housing?
55 or older, and that applies to every person in the household. The developer's presentation says "No family members below this age will be allowed residence."
How much will rent be at Gesu Senior Housing?
No current rents are published. In 2023 the developer quoted $400 for a one-bedroom at the 30% level, $570 at 40% and $1,174 at 80%, for an earlier plan. The State's 2026 ceilings are $589, $786 and $1,573.
Who qualifies for Gesu Senior Housing?
People 55 and older with incomes at or under 80% of area median income: $58,720 for one person and $67,120 for two in 2026. Fifteen apartments are held for the 30% and 40% levels.
Will Gesu Senior Housing take Section 8?
Eight apartments will have project-based vouchers through the Detroit Housing Commission. For the others, Michigan law bars a landlord with five or more units from refusing a renter over a voucher.
How do you apply for Gesu Senior Housing?
You cannot apply yet. Send an inquiry to the MHT Housing email address on Gesu Parish's senior housing page, with a name, email and phone number. MHT plans to open the application in spring or summer 2027.
Where is Gesu Senior Housing?
At 17181 Birchcrest Drive, Detroit, MI 48221, on the Gesu Parish campus north of McNichols Road, across from the University of Detroit Mercy. Buses on McNichols stop 0.09 miles away.
Sources for this article (13)
- senior housing page (gesudetroit.org)
- release of June 17, 2026 (detroitmi.gov)
- environmental notice of February 13, 2026 (detroitmi.gov)
- multifamily housing dataset (data.detroitmi.gov)
- building permits (data.detroitmi.gov)
- project-based voucher list (dhcmi.org)
- 2026 income and rent limits (michigan.gov)
- payment standards (michigan.gov)
- DDOT Bus Stops dataset (data.detroitmi.gov)
- MCL 554.601c (legislature.mi.gov)
- compliance manual (michigan.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.508 (law.cornell.edu)
- Small Area Fair Market Rents (huduser.gov)
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