AGI Construction’s Design Build Green Hub
Tanya Saldivar-Ali and Luis Ali bring together historic preservation and green design practices with the development of a Southwest Detroit hub for local contractors, supported by a Build MI Community grant
As native Detroiters, Tanya Saldivar-Ali and Luis Ali are proud to be a part of the revitalization of Southwest Detroit and to embrace its history and local community. As owners of AGI Construction, established in 2008, Tanya and Luis prioritize design-build projects predominantly in Southwest Detroit, with a focus on green building practices and uplifting local contractors.
In the early days of the business, Tanya and Luis started with buying and flipping properties, but the housing crash forced them to pivot. They moved to remodeling projects and property management services for the foreclosures flooding the market. Utilizing Tanya’s former clientele and past relationships in Detroit, the business then moved into the commercial market.
In 2016, AGI Construction got its first big opportunity with a remodel project for Cristo Rey High School in Detroit, renovating the 6,000-square-foot basement to a state-of-the-art media mixed center and cafeteria that included new mechanical, electrical and plumbing and purchasing kitchen appliances.
“That year we grew about 300%, and we used about 90% Detroit-based minority contractors to build out this beautiful space for the high school students,” said Tanya. “At that point, it really shifted our business model. For the last seven or eight years, we've been focusing on what we call ‘equitable development projects,’ projects that have impact in Detroit neighborhoods. We’re building out spaces for churches, schools, nonprofits and small business owners, while also helping people navigate the design build process so that they're able make informed decisions and save costs that add value to their properties. This really builds long-term wealth for people.”
In looking to scale and grow AGI Construction, Tanya and Luis set their sights on a new project: the revitalization of a 120-year-old Queen Anne-style home in the Hubbard Richard neighborhood of Southwest Detroit, only half a mile from the Michigan Central Innovation District. The couple attempted to self-finance the project as much as possible over a period of four years but still needed support to get it across the finish line.
Tanya says a shoutout from Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan during his State of the City address led to outreach from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) about grant opportunities to help complete the project.
“The State of the City was held at the Michigan Central train station; he highlighted our project and then the MEDC reached out to us,” she says. “It was like a God-ordained thing to learn about the MEDC and its resources. We were at a standstill trying to figure out how to finish the project and we were encouraged to apply for a grant, which we did. The MEDC was the gap closer that allowed us to get to the finish line for the last few months.”
In May 2025, the couple celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Design Build Green Hub. The complete restoration and renovation of the vacant home, through sustainable building practices, was supported in part by a $75,189 Build MI Community grant from the MEDC.
This initiative was created to activate underutilized or vacant space into vibrant areas by promoting capital investment into redevelopment projects being taken on by developers and property owners with limited real estate development experience. The initiative familiarizes new developers with the development process and positions them to potentially take on more complex projects in the future.
The hub, which now serves as the offices for AGI Construction and Detroit Future Ops 313 (DFO), will offer workshops, training, consulting services and advocacy for minority contractors and local residents with community projects.
A session of the Real Talk Contractor Series, "Construction Through the Lens of Development," was sponsored by the MEDC and hosted by AGI Construction at the new La Joya Gardens mixed-use development in Detroit. The panels bring together local contractors, project managers and other experienced operators to discuss their journeys and share tips with other contractors looking to build their business. To further address barriers, DFO plans to host educational workshops on navigating construction and the design-build ecosystem. This programming will be offered by DFO, the social arm of AGI Construction. DFO focuses on building capacity for Detroit minority contractors and engaging community in a respectful way through the lens of development.
Tanya says placemaking is her love language, with an embrace of the strong immigrant community and its history in Southwest Detroit at the heart of AGI Construction’s mission.
“Our core values when we talk about construction are so much more than the brick and mortar; it's about people, spaces, places and who has access to them,” she says. “Community is such a powerful force. That’s why we concentrate so much of our work in the way that we do. The hub itself was that perfect love story between community and construction and regenerating that amidst everything that's happening in Southwest Detroit.”
Looking toward the future, AGI Construction is continuing to work with the MEDC on a second project and recently closed on another building. Thanks to the passion of Tanya and Luis, and with help from the MEDC, AGI Construction and the Design Build Green Hub will be a source for innovative practices, community gathering and industry inclusivity for years to come.
Learn how the MEDC is supporting businesses like AGI Construction to design and build vibrant communities throughout the state.