This year, on Juneteenth, local, state and federal officials broke ground on a new affordable apartment community for seniors in Detroit’s Schulze neighborhood.
The site is the former location of the Lewis College of Business, which is Michigan’s only historically Black college and is now known as Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design. Family members of Dr. Violet Lewis, the college’s founder, were also in attendance for the event.
Dr. Violet Ponders, the granddaughter of Lewis, called the groundbreaking “just another chapter, a continuation of what my grandmother started almost 100 years ago.”
Though I was unable to attend, allow me to give special thanks to Dr. Violet Ponders for sending me an invitation, and for her follow-up phone call.
This project is of particular interest to me because I worked on the campuses as the event planning consultant for 15 years, flying or taking Amtrak, going back and forth to and from Detroit for six months of each year.
Violet T. Lewis Village will be on that site of the former Lewis College of Business, a campus of 11 acres located at 17370 Meyers Road. The project is honoring the past while building the future by combining building rehabilitations with new construction to create 105 new homes for seniors 55 and older.
Though Pensole Lewis College is now located in downtown Detroit in a lovely new facility, this new housing development is coming to the community for seniors at a time when baby boomers are becoming senior citizens.
“In Detroit, we’re different, we celebrate Juneteenth with action,” said Mayor Mike Duggan.
Fox News Detroit reported that the nearly $30 million development will bring more than 100 affordable housing units to seniors on Detroit’s west side.
“This is a community that came together to make this happen,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“As our neighborhoods are restored, we must not forget its history and history-makers and their contributions,” added Julie Schneider, director of Detroit’s Housing & Revitalization Department.
The list of invited attendees for the groundbreaking ceremony also included Detroit Council member Whitfield Calloway, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, (D-Mich.), Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate and Michigan state Rep. Regina Weiss.
Dr. Lewis was a leader and made powerful strides for the community and beyond. Her granddaughter is proud to see her legacy live on.
“It is very, very special. One, she would be happy it is being done,” Ponders said. “Not just because it’s associated in her name, but because it’s going to help the community. She has a memorial highway sign, and it, too, was erected on Juneteenth. I think both instances are testimony to the contributions African-Americans have made down through the years.”
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, visit her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on Twitter @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.
