Cross: Touts legal, development expertise

Delores Flynn / The Detroit News

Detroit -- David J. Cross works daily to change the city and rebuild strong communities as a real estate developer and business lawyer. "This is my hometown. I've always had the outlook where I wanted to see Detroit at its best and knew I had an obligation to give back. Now it's time to make that happen," said Cross, who grew up in the impoverished north end neighborhood on the east side of the city.

Cross, 49, who is making his first campaign for office, said his platform for the City Council includes shoring up the city's finances, improving public safety and strengthening the public school system.

Cross also wants to bring a business voice to the council table to form policies that strengthen the relationships between Detroit and developers. As a lawyer, he said he would lend expertise to the city on legal issues to save money and help run the council more efficiently.

Freman Hendrix, a former deputy mayor and Cross' fraternity brother, agrees a lawyer could help round out the nine-member council.

"I think the problem we have in the city of Detroit is leadership. David is a fighter for the everyday community needs. He will not be afraid to step up when things are difficult," Hendrix said.

Cross was first acquainted with the law when falsely charged with breaking into a professor's house while attending Christian Tabor College, a school with about 500 students in Kansas when he was 19. He was later acquitted when lawyers proved Cross was out of town at a party. Twenty years later, Cross learned that a former student was involved in the incident.

"The whole ordeal scared the heck out of me. But it inspired me to start looking into other alternatives for a career, and I began to understand the need for good lawyers like those who helped me," said Cross, who had wanted to become a doctor.

While his interests began with criminal litigation, Cross was exposed to business law through his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi. He opened his business in 1992, the Cross Law Firm, and a real estate development business in 1998 to help rebuild the crumbling city.

Current projects include the 50-unit residential condominium Brush Park Village North development and 20-unit construction and historic rehab of The Mack @ Brush Park, both totaling about $15 million in investments.

"In business, you call all the shots. Now it's time for me to listen to the public and make sure the city's needs are met," Cross said.

dflynn@detnews.com (734) 462-2206