Henry Ford Health: A Big Project that May Rebuild Detroit’s New Center If Done Right

Detroit’s New Center area has always felt like it’s lacking something.

On one side, there’s the Fisher Building, on the other, the hospital, but in between, there are endless parking lots, chain-link fences, and vacant lots.

It’s not quite Midtown, not quite downtown, and for years, it’s been waiting for a developer to take notice and do something about it.

Now, that may finally be happening. 

Henry Ford Health is investing more than $3 billion into a $1.5 billion redevelopment of their campus and surrounding area, which they are calling the “Future of Health.” 

This is more than just a marketing line; it means a new hospital tower, research facilities, residential buildings, retail, and public areas – turning a chunk of the New Center into a full-on medical innovation district.

The first major piece will be the hospital itself. Construction will begin vertically in mid-2025, with the new hospital expected to open by 2029. 

It will replace and enhance what’s currently there, updating the infrastructure, patient care areas, and adding the kind of technology and layout you’d expect from a 21st-century facility.

However, this isn’t just about medicine.

Mixed-income housing and restaurant plans are also in the works, along with the overall redevelopment of the entire neighborhood. 

This is significant, as it means what is currently New Center – a place people mostly just drive into for work or appointments – may finally be backed by a real sense of community that will make them want to stay after hours.

That said, like with all major redevelopments that happen in Detroit, there are obviously questions being posed, such as:

Will longtime Detroit residents benefit from Henry Ford’s rebuild, or is this just another project to make the city appealing for outsiders and investors that will push natives out, as seen elsewhere in the city?

In response to these concerns, Henry Ford says they are working closely with the community and plan for equity, but Detroiters are used to hearing that.

What really matters is follow-through.

This project could really change the north side of the city if done right. 

Think: More jobs. Better care. An actual neighborhood feel. 

And above all else…the kind of investment that sticks for decades to come.