Strategy in Action

Voters approved Detroit’s Community Benefits Ordinance (CBO) in 2016. When a new development project triggers the ordinance process, a neighborhood advisory council is established with nine representatives from the project’s impact area who work with the developer to establish a community benefits agreement. These agreements are included in the final development plan approved by the city council. Ten projects with agreements have been completed to date. Critics argue the ordinance lacks enforcement and the limited timeline for negotiated agreements is challenging for residents.