About Face

Developers of what was to be the Midtown Professional Building at the corner of Stimson and Woodward have changed their minds. Instead of a five-story, 75,000 square foot office building, Queen Lillian II LLC will be erecting 68 apartments on the site with an additional 25,000 square feet dedicated to retail space. The development will also include a 230-space parking deck.

Roesink Stadium

A fund-raising effort is now underway to restore Hamtramck's Roesink Stadium, one of few surviving ballparks from baseball's Negro League era. 

Two different incarnations of Detroit Stars along with the Detroit Wolves called Roesink Stadium home. The stadium opened in 1930 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 2012. A historical marker will be placed at the site during a ceremony on August 14.

If you are interested in volunteering or donating to the effort you can contact Gary Gillette, president of the Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium, at GGillette@247Baseball.com.

(October, 2007)

(October, 2007)

Hotel Madison Lenox

(September, 2004)

WSU's Mackenzie Home at Risk?

Having already survived one demolition scare in 1975, the future of Wayne State University's David Mackenzie Home has again been called into question.

Wayne State recently announced a $48.6 million expansion of its Hilberry Theater.  The University plans on expanding the theater complex to occupy the entire block, raising questions about what will happen to the 1895 Queen Ann home.

There has been talk about moving the home to another lot in the neighborhood, but no official announcements have been made by the University at this time.


To find out more about the Mackenzie Home and its role in Detroit's preservation movement, check out this video about Preservation Detroit.

A Look Inside the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ New Outdoor Adventure Center

The Detroit Free Press recently covered a sneak preview of the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor's latest attraction.

http://www.freep.com/article/20140622/BUSINESS06/306220065/DNR-Globe-RiverWalk-Roxbury-DEGC

What's Gilbert Buying?

Bedrock Real Estate is at it again. Detroit booster Dan Gilbert has purchased a large portion of the east side of Broadway between Grand River and Gratiot. With the purchase of these three early 20th century buildings, Gilbert has added nearly 27,000 square feet to his downtown empire.

1332 Broadway (Display Creations Building) in 2005

1332 Broadway (1919), 1326 Broadway (1904), 1322 Broadway (1922) today

Place Promo shows Broadway as it looked in 1976:

1332 Broadway

1326 Broadway

1322 Broadway

Another Building in TechTown to Get the Loft Treatment

HD Developments of Florida has announced that this warehouse on the corner of 2nd and York will be getting the loft treatment just as soon as it can get its final financing in place.

"Yorke Lofts" will consist of 42 studio and one-bedroom units and a rooftop garden. The two smaller buildings next door will be part of the development as well. One building will continue to serve as a parking garage while the other will provide room for retail spaces.

Temple Hotel

The Temple Hotel was demolished in May of 2014 to make room for the expansion of a DTE substation that will supply power to the new Detroit Red Wings arena that will be built nearby.

 (February, 2005)

(May, 2014)

 (October, 2013)

(May, 2014)

(May, 2014)

From Barbershop to Burger Joint

 (September, 2004)

(May, 2014)

Second floor bar and seating area

Here's the Steeple

It appears as though the Mother of Divine Mercy Parish's "Save Our Steeples" campaign has been a success.  Rather than removing St. Josaphat's damaged central steeple and capping the tower with a new roof, work began earlier this spring to restore the 200 foot structure and clad its exterior with new slate.

Notice

Waumbek Apartments (October, 2004)