WDET News
- Herman Gardens Re-born
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Sep 2, 2009Metro Desk
A former Detroit housing project is being re-born.
Several years ago, the Herman Gardens housing project was demolished. After almost 20 years of work and planning, the first tenants of a new mixed development on the property are moving in.
Among the dignitaries in attendance for the Gardenview Estates ribbon cutting was former Herman Gardens resident and television personality Judge Greg Mathis. He says growing up in the projects was a best of times, worst of times scenario.
“It was somewhat crime and drug ridden and therefore I had to learn the way of the streets. On the other hand there was a lot of love here and there was a lot of opportunity to seek out things that would be enhancing to our young people.”
Mathis has a street named in his honor in the new development.
After Gardenview Estates is fully built there will be over 830 rental units and a recreation center made possible through a donation from the NFL.