|
Already home to a six-year-old cradle-to-career, P-20 educational curriculum, the Marygrove Conservancy campus in northwest Detroit, Michigan, now will welcome the headquarters of one of that operation’s primary backers, the Kresge Foundation. The organization announced the move from Troy, Michigan, earlier this month as part of a $180 million commitment over the next five years to housing stabilization, home ownership, commercial corridor revitalization, public space enhancements and financial support to residents and businesses in the Fitzgerald, Bagley, University District and Martin Park neighborhoods.
Rip Rapson, CEO and president of the $4 billion national philanthropic organization, said Kresge’s investments will continue across the city. “But this constellation of commitments focuses on the neighborhoods in the Livernois-McNichols corridor, bringing the foundation’s total investments in the area to nearly $400 million.” The new HQ is projected to open by 2028. “Kresge’s move to Detroit is a recommitment to our hometown as the epicenter of our mission, and a launchpad for our next century of work here and in American cities,” Rapson said.
Since 2018, Kresge has invested $196 million in grants, low-cost loans and guarantees and worked with partners such as the University of Michigan and Detroit Public Schools to support the college’s transition while establishing the nonprofit Marygrove Conservancy to steward the campus, where more than 900 children and adults are cared for and educated today.
The 53-acre Marygrove campus was formerly home to Marygrove College, owned and operated by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) for 92 years until the college ceased academic operations in 2019 because of financial challenges. If that order of nuns rings a bell with Site Selection readers, it’s because they also owned property in Monroe, Michigan, that was transformed into the new La-Z-Boy corporate headquarters several years ago. For the 2013 story “Mutual Benefit,” we talked to the project director and others about how that deal came together.
|
