Josh Elling, CEO of Jefferson East, Inc. (JEI), spoke to the Club on November 26 about t
he challenges and opportunities facing the Jefferson-Chalmers area of Detroit. JEI was formed in 1994 as the Jefferson East Business Association (JEBA), and was created out a desire of residents to bring a modern retail development to the Jefferson-Chalmers business district. Although originally focusing on commercial development, JEI now also includes services for homeowners.
Josh described some of the services provided, including Property Tax Assistance & Tax Foreclosure Prevention, Housing & Credit Counseling, Home Repair and Energy Efficiency Services, Detroit Home Repair Loan Applications, Homebuyer Preparation, Counseling & Education, and Estate Planning Workshops. JEI helps keep the Jefferson corridor clean and safe by coordination of trash collection and working with the Detroit Police Department to reduce and prevent crime in the neighborhoods. For example, JEI funds the placement of Domestic Violence Advocates in local precincts.
Josh discussed the stress put on the corridor by flooding in recent years. Although recent infrastructure projects should reduce the flooding, the loss of governmental financing of redevelopment projects as the result of much of the corridor now being classified as a flood plain makes their redevelopment goals more difficult to achieve.
Josh took numerous questions from members, including the sources of funding for JEI and plans for certain projects such as the Vanity Ballroom.
For pictures from the meeting, go to
November 26 2024 Membership Meeting