1) Melvin Washington is the founder and president of Phoenix Group Consultants and Castle Construction, developers of affordable and market rate housing in Detroit. 2) He has overseen the construction of over 2,000 apartments, condominiums, and single-family homes totaling over $300 million as a project manager at First Centrum. 3) Mr. Washington has received several awards for his work developing and constructing affordable housing in Detroit, including the Spirit of Detroit Award for the largest housing developer in the city.

1. Melvin Washington Detroit
Founder and President of Phoenix Group Consultants, a developer of affordable and market rate
housing and Castle Construction, a builder of housing utilizing LIHTC, MSHDA financing, also partner with
community organization helping build capacity.
Mr. Washington also worked as a Project Manager with First Centrum, a company that specialized in
construction management of multi-family rental projects through state and federal government
agencies utilizing LIHTC. At First Centrum, Mr. Washington was directly involved in the construction of
over 2,000 apartments, condominium and single-family homes representing over 50 projects and more
than $300 million in development.
Mr. Washington was also the recipient of the Spirit of Detroit Award, recognized as the largest
developer/contractor of housing in the City of Detroit. Other accomplishments include For- Profit
Developer of the Year from the Michigan Capital Fund for Housing; a reputation as one of Michigan
State Housing and Development Authority’s best builders; and the completion of a nationally recognized
historic building that serves as headquarters for Castle Construction and the Phoenix Companies.
Mr. Washington has also served as a mentor, provided assistance and financial assistance his nonprofit
partners, and other organization that is working to bridge the digital divide.
Other professional developments include the company identified as one of the largest
developer/builders of affordable housing in the City of Detroit; a company that has implemented an
EEO/Affirmative Action program that consistently exceeded State goals; Developer/Builder of River Park
Village at the Whittier, a riverfront development of mixed income elderly apartments in the City of
Detroit; Managing Member (of a collaborative effort including Henry Cisneros, American City Vistas,
David Hill, Kimball Hill Homes, and U-SNAP-BAC) of City of Detroit’s most comprehensive development
project, the Far Eastside; Minority owned vertically integrated design/build development company with
over 25 staff with headquarters in Detroit.
Education:
College: Michigan State University
Degree: Master of Science, Urban Planning
Curriculum: Administrative and Land Development
College: Michigan State University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Construction Management
Curriculum: Landscape Architecture