• Detroit is a frequent user of tax abatements. Between 2017 and 2023, the city facilitated 171 development projects by abating a total of $842.7 million of property taxation over several years. If the project assumptions hold true, the abatements will result in $7.5 billion of investments in the city and more than 24,000 new jobs.
• Over those seven years, 93 percent of the abatements were in downtown, midtown, and along the riverfront. A changing focus led to more than half of the abatements granted in 2023 being located outside the greater downtown area, but still the largest value of abatements and development is within the greater downtown area.
• City leaders can take actions to improve Detroit’s competitiveness for all by doing such things as putting the property tax rate more on par with surrounding cities and accentuating its advantages with a focus on international trade and nurturing startup companies.

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