Detroit Brownfield
Redevelopment Authority

What Does the DBRA Do?

The City of Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (DBRA) was established to promote the revitalization of environmentally distressed and blighted areas within the boundaries of the City of Detroit.

The City of Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (the “DBRA”) was established pursuant to Michigan Public Act 381 of 1996 (“Act 381”), as amended, to promote the revitalization of environmentally distressed and blighted areas within the boundaries of the City of Detroit. Under Act 381, substantial redevelopment throughout Detroit has been supported by Brownfield incentives. Since the program’s inception, the DBRA has facilitated the approval of over 250 plans for Brownfield redevelopment including residential, mixed-use, retail, industrial, office and commercial uses.

Developers of properties that qualify as contaminated, blighted, or functionally obsolete and are part of an approved Brownfield plan, may be eligible for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) reimbursement – increases in property taxes that result from new investments – for both environmental and non-environmental activities. These activities include baseline environmental assessments; due care activities; additional response activities; lead, asbestos and mold abatement; demolition; site preparation; and infrastructure improvements.

DBRA is governed by its Board of Directors, who receive input from the DBRA Community Advisory Committee (the “DBRA-CAC”). DBRA Board members are appointed by the mayor subject to the consent of City Council.

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