A Castle no More

Brush Park suffered another loss this evening.  Luben Apartments, my favorite of all of the remaining buildings in the neighborhood that have not been rehabbed,  has been demolished by the city.

A fire, probably caused by squatters, broke out early Sunday morning destroying a large portion of the early 20th century structure.  DFD officials claimed that the building needed to be demolished in order to protect arson investigators that will be looking into the cause of the fire.  *Photos ASAP*

Detroit Funk's Coverage

65 Edmund Place

Gone

For a change, a few nondescript buildings got knocked down in Brush Park this winter.

Another Loss: 291 Erskine

September, 2004

February, 2005

January, 2010

Brush Park Failure: The Yale Building

September, 2004

October, 2007

February, 2009

January, 2010

Brush Park Failure: 269 Winder

Another Crosswinds Fail

May, 2004

September, 2004

December, 2004

August, 2005

October, 2005

February, 2009

January, 2010

Hip City Failure: 281 Erskine

The people bringing us Brush Park Village North and The Mack @ Brush Park planted their flag on this property in 2007 and it's all been down hill since. From the rendering, it looks like they have been letting nature do all of their demo work for them.

September, 2004

May, 2007

November, 2007

August, 2009

January, 2010

 

Brush Park Failure: 2639 John R

This house was saved, only to be lost again.

You Learn Something New Every Day.

I've been by this house on Adelaide in Brush Park numerous times over the years, and have even taken a few pictures of it from time to time. However, it wasn't until today that I learned a bit about the home's history. According to the book Home In Detroit the famous comedian/actor Danny Thomas and his wife Rose Marie Mantell Thomas lived here beginning in 1936. The photos below show the home in 2004 and again in 2009.


*Special Note* a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Home in Detroit are being donated to Motor City Blight Busters.

Mercy Hall Hospital of Detroit Rediscovered

I can now put a name to this previously unidentified house on Watson. While I was researching Brush Park on Virtual Motor City. I discovered this photograph from 1931. At the time, this was the location of Mercy Hall Hospital, a small Detroit facility for indigent cancer patients, founded by Loretta Mary Gibson. It relocated to 269 Mack in the 1940's.

Progress is Progress?

After a long delay since setting the foundations for Brush Park Village North. Progress can again be seen on Brush Park's latest condo development.

May, 2007

September, 2007

October, 2007

May, 2007

September, 2007

October, 2007

Contrast this with the continued neglect of Hip City Living's other properties in Brush Park. This house on Erskine had its porch collapse in January and the rubble still remains till this day.

September, 2007

Nothing has been done to stabilize this house or any of Hip City Living's other properties in the neighborhood. In fact, the houses continue to deteriorate. The only noticeable signs of progress are the signs planted firmly in their front yards.

Setting the Foundations

Foundation work has begun on Brush Park Village North.

Slumpy's Demise

This past winter wasn't very kind to the William Livingstone House.  Old Slumpy finally lost his face a few weeks ago.

freakybuttrue captured the collapse of the facade.

Hip City Living

Hip City Living has recently updated their web page. It gives a first look at their plans for Brush Park Village North. The ground breaking is set for April 16th.

Home Improvement *Updated*

Here's a look at a couple of completed restorations in Brush Park.

This House is located on Winder

This is 255 Winder and an address to be named later.

Above is Edmund Place at Brush Park. 291 Edmund Place was built in the French Second Empire style for Frederick Butler in 1882. It has been converted into 4 condo units.