Ann Arbor Opened Affordable Dunbar Tower Housing
The six-story project in Kerrytown addresses local discriminatory housing history.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in African-American
Live Poll
Should local governments fund research into historical racial injustices to inform current city policy?
The Dunbar Tower affordable housing project opened in February 2026 at the intersection of Catherine Street and Fourth Avenue. The 63-unit complex aims to mitigate the long-term impact of discriminatory housing practices in the city.
Why it matters
The development serves as a response to historic racial disparities in Ann Arbor, where the Black population in Kerrytown and Water Hill plummeted from 45% in the 1980s to 5% by 2010. By providing accessible housing, the project seeks to rectify decades of systemic residential displacement.
The six-story Dunbar Tower provides 63 affordable housing units in the heart of Kerrytown. This project follows a history of exclusionary practices that began with property deed covenants in 1912.
The players
Ann Arbor Housing Commission
This agency manages public housing resources and develops affordable living options for residents in the city.
Avalon Housing
This non-profit organization focuses on creating and managing permanent supportive housing for individuals and families in the area.
Obsidian Research Insights
This consulting firm was hired by the city to conduct a comprehensive study on racial harms and historical injustices.
Ann Arbor City Council
This local governing body is responsible for approving municipal contracts and establishing city-wide housing and policy initiatives.
The details
Co-developed by the Ann Arbor Housing Commission and Avalon Housing, the building creates new residential opportunities in an area historically defined by significant demographic loss. Parallel to the housing initiative, the city has committed to investigating its historical harms through a $200,000 contract with Obsidian Research Insights.
Timeline
1912: Racial covenants began appearing in Ann Arbor property deeds.
April 2024: Construction began on the Dunbar Tower project.
February 2026: The Dunbar Tower project opened to residents.
June 15, 2026: The Ann Arbor City Council approved the reparations study contract.
Culture Shift
The development represents a broader societal shift toward acknowledging and rectifying the legacies of redlining and exclusionary housing. It marks a departure from historic neglect by actively investing in housing and research to rebuild local community diversity.
Residents may see a change in neighborhood density and housing availability within the Kerrytown area. The ongoing reparations study could also lead to future changes in municipal policy or further resource allocation across the city.
The takeaway
The opening of Dunbar Tower signals a deliberate transition from historic exclusion toward institutional support for community stability. These initiatives highlight the city's commitment to using both physical infrastructure and academic study to address systemic injustice.
Further reading
Learn more about the local landscape in African-American.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Michigan Daily.
Live Poll
Should local governments fund research into historical racial injustices to inform current city policy?
