About us

From Green Garage Detroit
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Flickr Error ( Photo not found ): PhotoID 2220810148 The "Green Garage" refers to a number of things: a building, a project and a community of people working to develop a sustainable business center in Detroit.


Flickr Error ( Photo not found ): PhotoID 2274903721 First, the building. Our building is located in the Midtown area of Detroit, at 4444 Second. It was built in 1920, and housed a number of auto-related businesses (and was once a Model T showroom) until the 1960's when it was owned by a company called Kanners and Patrize, who sold sundry goods to department stores. Its most recent use was as a warehouse until 2007, when it was purchased by Tom and Peggy Brennan to develop a sustainable business center.

More building history


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Next, the project. The proposed use of the building is office space and workshop rental to those who are developing green business ideas. Acknowledging that most young businesses suffer from a lack of resources, connections and funding, the Green Garage hopes to serve as a starting point, supplying needed business plans, funding sources and community connections. Once the businesses are established, the idea is that they will move out into the Detroit business environment.


First, however, the building needs to be renovated, and we are taking a 2-pronged approach: a historic renovation, returning the building to its 1920's look, and a green renovation, covering everything from energy use to materials reuse and selection to greening up the exterior.

We are scheduled to begin construction in September of 2009 and will be open for business in October of 2011.



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Finally, our community-based approach. Since our project began in the spring of 2008, we have worked with over 120 volunteers who have an interest in the project and an expertise to contribute. We first hosted a series of discussions with about a dozen people that we called a Foundational Forum, which helped us determine our perspective and gave us a decision-making model. Next came our Fall Discussion Series, which covered topics such as the building design, garden work, our net-zero energy approach, the Green Alley and the beginnings of our business plan. This was followed by a Winter Discussion Series, which brought in new topics, such as water, materials, food, transportation and security. In each of these sessions, we benefited from the work of architects, engineers, designers, business people, gardeners, and people who are simply interested in the project.

Since the fall of 2009, we have been in construction mode. We plan to open in the fall of 2011.