New Black Business Development Rises Near Detroit’s Historic ‘Live and Six,’ Blending Legacy and Opportunity
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Interior, Image Courtesy of Speramus Partners LLC
A five-minute drive from Detroit’s iconic “Avenue of Fashion,” a new Black business development at 7400 W McNichols Rd takes shape 5 blocks away from the intersection of Livernois and Six Mile. Or, if you’re from Detroit, it’s just “Live and Six.” Officially, it’s McNichols, but ask anyone who’s grown up here, and they’ll tell you: it’s Six Mile, where history and hustle meet on every corner.
This neighborhood has always been more than a collection of storefronts—it’s a cultural heartbeat for Black-owned businesses. Generations of families have walked these streets, building not just businesses but legacies. That legacy is about to get a fresh chapter with this new project. It’s not just another development; it’s a promise to keep the spirit of entrepreneurship alive and thriving, accelerating the growth of commerce in a community that’s long been Detroit’s foundation of Black resilience and innovation. The intersection is set to rise—literally and figuratively—marking a milestone in the city’s ongoing commitment to economic empowerment and community revitalization.
This new development was championed by Chase L. Cantrell and Jason Headen, Detroit natives and now prominent Detroit developers of Speramus Partners LLC. Cantrell, a respected attorney, also established Building Community Value Detroit, an innovative program focused on equipping residents with the knowledge and skills needed to transform into neighborhood developers, contributing to the empowerment of local communities. Headen is a consultant and real estate developer, so this partnership only made sense.
This location and development marks a major investment in the future of Detroit’s Black business ecosystem. Situated in an area that has seen both economic challenges and a resurgence, the development will offer a variety of retail spaces, restaurants, and office locations tailored to the needs of Black entrepreneurs. However, this development considered what the neighborhood people wanted before assuming what the area needed.
Exterior, Image Courtesy of Speramus Partners LLC
Cantrell met Lauren Hood in 2016, who was head of the Live6 Alliance then. Hood was having community conversations at Marygrove College, the University of Detroit Mercy, and even at local businesses like Detroit Sip, asking residents how they felt about developments and what they wanted to see in their community.
“Lauren heard all the things that most Detroit communities say, ‘We want things that you can’t find everywhere else, we want retail, we want grocery stores, we want bars and restaurants, we want a vibrant commercial corridor,’” Cantrell said.
“Lauren and I had become good friends, and she said, ‘Hey, I have an idea.’ She wanted to create a space in Detroit similar to Busboys and Poets in Washington, DC. At the bar is a restaurant, a community gathering space, and a bookstore. It’s a very vibrant, dynamic space. So she asked me, ‘Would you be interested in teaming up and doing that?’”
Headen grew up in Bagley, and Cantrell moved to Bagley in 2017. During that time, it was found that Invest Detroit had been quietly buying property on Six Mile. They have discreetly acquired property in strategic neighborhoods and then asked developers to submit proposals for those properties.
“When Chase asked me to join and partner with him on this, I felt like it was a great opportunity to be able to help create something beautiful in a neighborhood that I grew up in when I went to Bagley Elementary and
Hally Middle. My brother went to Bates Academy, so going up and down the six-mile corridor was something I did for the entirety of my childhood. I want to see something different in the community, where people can gather and have that experience,” Headen expressed.
“We want something in the neighborhood and within the city that people can just walk to grab something to eat with their peers, friends, family, etc., and have an enjoyable time. I appreciate the opportunity to go along for the ride on this journey.”
Invest Detroit became the lender, and the official closing on purchasing the 7,695 sq. ft. building was at the end of December 2019. The total development cost was $3.5 million, with an architect on board who created a high-level design. Then, COVID-19 temporarily derailed the development plans due to the rising cost of materials and labor and overall delays due to the pandemic and a potential business lease falling through.
“It took some years to get it done, but we had a very particular plan and what we wanted to do. So we had a Black development team, a Black architect, a woman-led, Black-owned architecture firm, and a Black contractor, and having everybody Black was the goal we wanted. We want our tenants to be Black, and we’ve continued working toward that goal,” Cantrell said.
A solid plan, a solid team, and the derailment of COVID-19 weren’t the only setbacks along the way. Historically, the Bagley, University District, and Fitzgerald/Marygrove neighborhoods are prominent Black neighborhoods in Detroit. However, even with the majority of Black residents still in the area, obtaining property while Black has been an ongoing challenge.
“Something that I learned through the process when we were purchasing the building would be restrictions on Black people not owning this property, and many of the properties in that area had these types of restrictions. But this is the first time I have seen anything like that before,” Headen explained.
Headon and Cantrell were even more motivated to pursue and complete this development as a result of being told that Black people couldn’t buy the building. This statement reinforced his determination to defy the discriminatory attitudes and barriers that had been placed in his way.
“Seeing that personally drove me because in a majority Black city, and we can’t buy this? This is on paper, in the deed, that we can’t buy this building. That’s insane. And then knowing that less than 1% of all developments are by Black folks,” Headen expressed.
“I looked at it as an opportunity. I want to be in the change so that other people can see that they can do just as good as we did or better. The opportunity is out there, the resources are out there, the people are out there. It can be done.”
With tons of space available, the development is poised to offer a broad spectrum of opportunities for Black entrepreneurs. The space will allow entrepreneurs to scale their operations, from retail businesses to larger ventures, while fostering collaboration among business owners.
“I can see in a vision people being in the space, having fun, having conversations, listening to music, etc. So I’m really looking forward to that because I can’t wait to see the reaction from the community once it’s open,” Headen said.
Part of the vision for this project included honoring and celebrating the contributions of notable Black figures from the local neighborhood. After conversations with Detroit Historian Jamon Jordan, Cantrell and Headen decided on a mural of Aaliyah, Detroit’s Princess of R&B. The mural was completed by internationally renowned Detroit muralist Hubert Massey. There are currently no murals of Aaliyah in the city of Detroit. The last documented mural of her was in 2008, located at 13910 Mack Ave. The building has since been demolished.
Aalyiah Mural, created by Muralist Hurbert Massey Image Courtesy of Speramus Partners LLC
“One of the ways we selected Aaliyah is we started to curate a list of people who have done amazing things and who have lived in the Bagely or Fitzgerald area. There were also different individuals like Stevie Wonder and Big Sean,” Headen said.
“We saw Aaliyah as the fitting choice, as she actually lived in Bagley and then lived in the University District. It was a great touch to add and to pay homage to her and her work.”
When a Black architect joins a project, their unique perspective and design approach enrich the process. Damon Dickerson played a key role in developing the impressive design. African culture heavily influences his aesthetics, shaping his worldview and design style. His designs incorporate symbols, metalwork, and elements inspired by West African culture.
“In one of our first meetings, he (Dickerson) explained that when you’re in a space designed for Black people, melanated people, we need more sunlight. Even having a front facade that’s nothing but windows was intentional. So how do you not only build something beautiful but also something specifically for Black people? And that’s why we wanted to have everybody Black on board while creating this,” Cantrell said.
The Livernois and Six Mile development is more than just bricks and mortar; it represents a future where Black businesses in Detroit have the tools, support, and infrastructure to succeed and continue driving the cultural and economic fabric of the city. As the development rises, so will the opportunities for entrepreneurship, community engagement, and sustained growth.
“I’m eager to see people engaging with the space, really being able to utilize it, and having fun there,” Cantrell said.
“Because no one wants a vacant building. That’s the whole point of doing these rehab projects in the first place. We’ll be bringing something new to Detroit that doesn’t exist.”
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