17 Historic Detroit Properties That Should Be Renovated in 2024
Despite making incredible process in certain parts of Detroit, including Michigan Central Station nearing completion and the Book Tower reopening, senseless demolitions are still occurring across the Motor City. In recent years, we saw the end of the United Artists’ Theatre to make way for a parking lot, the iconic former Kelvinator and AMC Headquarters was taken down for a new warehouse, and smaller structures are disappearing from Detroit’s neighborhoods.
Sometimes, demolition can be a signal of progress. Let’s be honest: there isn’t a use for every old building in Detroit, and to provide jobs, new factories, offices, and warehouses need to be built. That said, in some instances, demolition is hastily completed to present faux progress or because it’s cheaper to raze a structure than to preserve its historical character for generations to come.
I’ve done in-depth research on the history of every structure on this list and feel that each entry is a worthy candidate for renovation in 2024. Some are more likely than others, but the clock is ticking, and who knows how much more time some of these buildings have. Let’s get started!
Wohlfeil Furniture Company
2933 Gratiot Avenue
Neighborhood: McDougall Hunt
The Wohlfeil Furniture Company’s home base was completed in 1913 and offered a wide variety of furniture for Detroiters to purchase. By 1930, the company had failed, likely due to the Great Depression.
It later became the Globe Furniture Company, which was there until at least 1959. Three years later, Chene Restaurant Equipment opened here, eventually being taken over by the Buch Equipment Company, occupying the building until around 2015. After that, the structure was vacant.
In 2017, Michigan artist Pat Perry painted a mural on the uptown side of the Wohlfeil Building, which has become an iconic piece of the Gratiot Streetscape. Preventative maintenance has been completed on the structure, and it’s been for sale on and off over the past few years.
Considering this structure’s location near Eastern Market and Elmwood Park, it should see new life soon.
St. Albertus Parochial School
2000 East Canfield Street
Neighborhood: Forest Park
St. Albertus Polish Roman Catholic Church was the home base of thousands of Polish Immigrants in Detroit for decades. In addition to worshiping at the church, which still stands, thousands went to St. Albertus’ Parochial School next door, which opened in 1917 and was designed by Harry J. Rill.
The school’s population was steady for a few decades but began to plateau and fall as Poles left the neighborhood and the neighborhood’s population began to decline. The school closed around 1966.
After that, the church still used it for various community programs and events. The Polish American Historic Site Association, incorporated in 1992, took over ownership of the church and school and maintained it for around two decades. Eventually, they sold it to fund keeping the church afloat.
It eventually landed in Dennis Kefallinos’ lap, a notorious slumlord that owns dozens of properties around Detroit.
The structure is a 15-minute walk from Eastern Market, a mile from Midtown, and next to the new Joe Louis Greenway. A mixed-use development here makes sense, especially considering the dense population offered by the apartments and townhomes down the street, making this an incredibly viable option for redevelopment.
That said, Kefallinos has a terrible record doing anything with properties, so this one might be hard-pressed to happen if he doesn’t sell it first.
Deutsches Haus
8200 Mack Avenue
Neighborhood: Indian Village
The Deutsches Haus sits between Indian Village and Pingree Park on Detroit’s east side. Built for German cultural groups in 1926, the structure was designed by Louis Kamper and opened a year later.
From getting fined for slinging booze during prohibition to hosting boxing matches, the Deutsches Haus saw it all. The structure has a large auditorium, making it an ideal space for political events and community meetings.
At some point, the structure was renamed the Maxwell Casino, later became the Catholic Youth Organization Community Center, and became the home of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church in the 1960s, where Dr. Martin Luther King Sr., Coretta Scott King, and Jesse Jackson would speak.
The structure closed around 2010 and has been vacant since. An LLC currently owns it. Considering its location between the mansions of Indian Village and up-and-coming Pingree Park, the future of this structure could be as grand as the auditorium inside.
Billinghurst Hotel
71 West Willis Street
Neighborhood: Cass Corridor (nice try, Midtown)
The Billinghust Hotel opened on August 6, 1922, at the hands of A. C. Billinghurst. When it opened, it was a residential hotel tailored to more extended stays. Essentially, you could rent by the day, week, or month without worrying about cleaning or furnishing your apartment. Eventually, these sorts of hotels fell out of favor.
By the 1970s, the Cass Corridor had earned itself a nasty reputation as a haven for the homeless and drug addicts despite an artistic renaissance occurring in the same neighborhood. By the 1980s, the Billinghurst was known as a welfare house. It was kept alive by young, single Detroiters who were on general assistance and spent that money on rent.
After Governor Engler ended general assistance in 1991, the hotel became a homeless shelter before becoming abandoned in the early 2000s. The structure was later purchased by Scott and Carolyn Lowell, owners of Traffic Jam & Snug and other businesses downtown and in the Cass Corridor.
Their plans to renovate the structure were slowed by a fire at their restaurant in May 2022, but here’s to hoping that 2024 will be the year we see wholesale changes at the Billinghurst.
Art Stove Company Office Building
1401 East Milwaukee Avenue
Neighborhood: Milwaukee Junction
This structure is unique on this list for two reasons. First, it predates Detroit being known as the Motor City, considering its construction in 1907. Second, it might be too late if something isn’t done here soon, as the structure appears to be in dire shape in certain areas. This isn’t the only structure that applies to, but most are somewhat stable.
Built for the Art Stove Company, when this structure was built, Detroit was known as the largest stove manufacturing city in the United States. As stoves were improved, the business changed, and Detroit adapted. The Detroit Stove Works later purchased the Art Stove Company, and the entire complex was sold to Frank L. Bromley, a real estate magnate, in 1925.
Detroit continued to change, and so did the former Art Stove Company Building. When I-75 was built, the massive factory across the street the office building served was demolished. Eventually, Bromley retired and handed the company down to his son. At some point after that, the structure was parted out and rented to smaller companies, including Midwest Engineering and the Magnaflux Corporation. I believe that it was in use until the 1990s.
The structure has been for sale on and off since the early 2000s, often for a ridiculously high price. The door is often wide open, showing the world that there are large holes in the wooden floorboards, holes in the roof for the rain to drip through, and potential structural issues.
This building can absolutely be saved, but if the owners wait much longer, that might not be the case.
The Apex Lounge
7649 Oakland Avenue
Neighborhood: North End
Few locations are steeped in more musical history than the North End’s Apex Lounge.
Built in the 1910s or 1920s, this structure received a liquor license in 1934 at the hands of Archille Caron. The neighborhood surrounding the building was primarily Jewish, but over time, populations shifted, and the area became predominantly black. Oakland Avenue was a haven for blues and jazz music by the 1950s.
At some point, 7649 Oakland became the Apex. The music was always outstanding, but one man would make the joint famous. John Lee Hooker became a regular, and the Apex inspired his famous track Boom Boom.
“I used to play at this place called the Apex Bar in Detroit. There was a young lady there named Luilla, she was a bartender there. I would come in there at night and I’d never be on time…Whenever I’d come in she’d point at me and say ‘Boom boom, you’re late again.’ It dawned on me that that was a good name for a song. Then one night she said, “Boom boom, I’m gonna shoot you down.’ She gave me a song but she didn’t know it.” (From the book Working Musicians by Bruce Pollock)
In 1989, the Persell family purchased the bar. After Charles died in 1995, his wife, Marvelous, took over. She held the reigns until around 2014, when she passed away. After that, the Apex closed.
In 2015, the Detroit Afrikan Music Institution, a nonprofit, purchased the structure and received grants for its rehabilitation. Some work has been completed in that process, but wholesale work has yet to begin. Hopefully, we’ll see more progress here in 2024.
Dexter Recreation and Market Center
9840 Dexter Avenue
Neighborhood: Dexter Linwood
For decades, this structure offered family fun or a night out with friends for thousands of Detroiters on the near NW side. When it opened in 1927, the Dexter Recreation and Market Center had 24 lanes, 16 pool tables, three stores, offices, and a restaurant. The structure was built for R. B. Rowley and G. L. Waters.
There were weekly bowling leagues, championship bowling tournaments, and parties for families and friends. This structure is an excellent example of how well a mixed-use development can work, considering this one was open for decades. In the 1950s, legendary black bowler Bill Rhodman managed the alley.
In the late 1960s, a Goodwill opened inside the structure, staying for at least a decade. Around 1980, Fred Dally opened a liquor store here, which was open until around his murder in 2012. The last major tenant of the structure was the M.W. King Solomon Grand Lodge AF & AM, an organization of masons.
I believe that this structure closed around the time Dally was murdered in 2012, and it’s sat vacant since. This is one of the most unique structures I’ve found in Detroit, and its size makes it an excellent candidate to become a mixed-use development, as it once was.
United Cork Companies
1408 17th Street
Neighborhood: Hubbard Richard
I’m not certain who this structure was built for, but it was constructed in the 1920s and was being utilized by the United Cork Companies by 1927. After changing hands a few times, Springfield Detail & Machine Parts purchased the structure and used it as their home base, eventually changing their name to the Springfield Tool and Die Company.
They left for Dearborn in 1957, leaving the structure behind. By 1973, the building was owned by Bethseda (or Bethesda) Baptist Church, and it was later utilized by Holy United Trinity Church, the structure’s last occupant.
As of November 2023, the structure was for sale through O’Connor Real Estate for $600,000. The price is high, but it’s incredibly close to Ford’s Michigan Central Station project, Corktown, and the heart of Southwest Detroit. The property includes a side lot, which could provide on-site parking or an outdoor space for an office or restaurant.
The neighborhood surrounding this structure is healthy, making this one an excellent choice for redevelopment.
Bohemian National Hall
3009 Tillman Street
Neighborhood: Chadsey Condon
The cornerstone for this structure was laid in May 1914. Later that year, the building was dedicated, complete with a gym, auditorium, meeting halls, and more.
The hall was a place for Bohemians, or, more generally, those from Czechoslovakia, to meet, organize, and support one another. Gymnastics was a popular program for kids, among other things.
A fire occurred in the basement on New Year’s Eve in 1955. The damage was significant, but the structure was rebuilt. In the 1960s, the building had become a Lithuanian Hall, moving from their old location on Vernor Highway. The Darius and Giremas Club, or D & G Club, operated here, too, which was a private social club comprised of mostly Lithuanians.
In the late 1990s, the structure became a haven for artists to grow and make art. Live music and art-related events were common, and Joel Peterson and Jerome Ferretti ran the project. By the 2010s, things had slowed down, and Gerald ‘Jerry’ Belanger purchased it with hopes of redeveloping it.
The structure is battered but appears to be in good shape. I haven’t noticed any work completed here; however, it does seem to be looked after. Considering this structure’s history and location near Corktown, it could make for a rad redevelopment project.
This massive structure would be an enormous undertaking to renovate, and it probably won’t happen under the current ownership. That said, this building’s unique design makes for a unique opportunity for a developer than can.
Roberts Brass Company tapped architects Palmer & Ropes to design this structure, which opened in 1906. A significant addition was completed in 1916, designed by the same firm, completing this massive complex. The addition utilized reinforced concrete, whereas the original did not. Eventually, Robert’s company left the space, and it was available for sale or lease. A listing in September 1949 listed it at 106,000 square feet with an attractive lobby and offices.
After Robert’s Brass left the structure, numerous smaller companies, including Wayne County Community College, utilized the space for storage. At some point, the EPA did cleanup work here. Eventually, it landed in Dennis Kefallinos’ lap, leading to no plans or rehabilitation work.
On multiple occasions, I saw dogs roaming around the structure’s interior. In the whole post, I wrote, “These weren’t stray dogs—they were well fed, cared for, and, apparently, guarding the building.” In April 2023, one of those dogs killed a man who thought they were stuck and tried to rescue them.
Considering who owns this structure, I don’t think we’ll see activity here soon. That said, the large interior courtyard and unique structure design would make for an exciting redevelopment project. The city hopes to demolish it, but they won’t ever build anything like this again, so I hope they preserve it.
Charlie The Pencilman’s
7801-7809 Oakland Avenue
Neighborhood: North End
This structure was completed in the 1920s and housed a pharmacy from the git-go. Originally called Charlie The Pencilman’s, the business was later changed to Charley’s Pharmacy or Charley’s Drug.
There were initially apartments upstairs, one of which was the scene of a murder in April 1941. Leora Cantrell was killed by her husband Edgar, who tried to pretend that they had been attacked and shot. He was taken to prison, and their daughter, Katherine, was taken away.
Charlie The Pencilman’s Drug Store remained open through the 1970s, later owned by Inez Meadows. By the late 1970s, Gastman’s Beer Store had opened here, which was there until at least 1982. In 1977, the owner, Norman Thompson, was shot and killed while working in the store.
Most recently, the structure was home to Best Deals At Oakland, a liquor store. It closed around 2013. In 2021, Sydney G. James and Rick Williams completed a mural on the structure’s south side, and Max Sansing and Rob Gibbs worked on the one on the Oakland side as a part of the BLKOUT Walls Festival.
Detroit had numerous ethnic halls to cater to the various groups of immigrants that flooded into Detroit’s city limits to get good automotive jobs, and none still standing are more oppulent than the East Side Dom Polski Hall. Joseph G. Kastler designed it, and the structure opened around 1912.
Over the years, the structure was home to community and political events, dances, weddings, and other private parties. Polish Falcon, American Legion, and Fraternal Order of Eagle meetings were held here, and countless Detroiters have stories about fighting, dancing, and drinking that they did inside its walls.
The hall would close in the 1980s and eventually fall into private hands. A portion of the space was converted into an area suitable for living. It was sold to Detroit Love Incorporated for $115,000 in 2012—the religious-based non-profit plans to renovate the space for church and community use.
Considering this structure was built for and by the community, seeing the East Side Dom Polski Hall turned into a space that the neighborhood can use again would be spectacular.
The Grosfield Building
3365 Michigan Avenue
Neighborhood: Central Southwest / Chadsey Condon
This structure dates back to around 1893. It was built for Anthony Grosfield, an immigrant from Germany. He would occupy the space until he died in 1927, a passing notable in the community at the time because of his critical role in the neighborhood.
There isn’t much information out there about what happened to the Grosfield Building after the death of its namesake. There was probably first-floor retail and offices upstairs that were later abandoned.
In 2017, some of the structure’s backside collapsed into the street. A year later, plans were announced to convert the building and attached warehouse into 20 lofts and retail space. Work never got going. In June 2021, the warehouse structure suffered a fire and was promptly demolished. Since then, the city has hoped to demolish the Grosfield, too.
Developer Christos Moisides purchased the structure in August 2022 with plans to restore it. Late in 2023, the city hoped to demolish it again; however, it appears that the attempt has been thwarted. Hopefully, Moisides or another developer can save this one before it’s too late.
White Grove Restaurant
3131 2nd Avenue
Neighborhood: Cass Corridor (nice try, Midtown)
This is the smallest property on this list by far. That might not excite the architecture buffs around here, but that means it’ll be the cheapest to renovate, right? Well, you’d hope so!
Before becoming a restaurant, there was a service station here. The current structure was constructed in the 1940s and was first used as a small Greek restaurant. Eventually, it became the White Grove Restaurant, a slider joint popular for its good service and cheap food.
Countless generations of Cass Corridor residents tell tales of a worker named Frieda, who was kind and a stellar cook. In its later years, the building was run by Helen Turner.
The structure is currently owned by former Showtime Clothing owner Daniel P. Tatarian. He told me he has plans for the building and would like to open it in 2024. Hopefully, he comes true to his word, and you’ll be able to get greasy burgers there again soon!
The Hotel Yorba
4020 Lafayette Boulevard
Neighborhood: Hubbard Farms
This might be one of the most well-known entries on this list, thanks to a 2001 White Stripes song and video that feature the hotel.
Built in 1926 for Samuel Plotkin, this residential hotel wouldn’t face the highway for another few decades. Residential hotels eventually fell out of favor, and neighborhood hotels weren’t as popular over time, but the Hotel Yorba chugged on.
Like the Billinghurst Hotel, the Yorba eventually became a place for those on general assistance to stay for a modest fee. When Engler ended the program, the Yorba was hard-pressed to stay afloat. By 1991, Jerry Jankowski owned the structure.
Even with the end of general assistance, the Yorba stayed open. Apparently, the White Stripes didn’t have permission to record inside the hotel, but they did it anyway, and the single version of the song features that recording. It was recorded in room #286.
In 2020, the structure was put up for sale for $2.95 million. The listing isn’t online anymore, but the sign is still up. The neighborhood surrounding the hotel has seen investment in recent years, making this one a solid candidate for a mixed-use redevelopment.
Danish Brotherhood Hall
1775 West Forest Avenue
Neighborhood: Woodbridge
The cornerstone for this structure was placed in 1915, and the building opened the following year. It housed the Danish Brotherhood Hall #227, sometimes called the Danish Brotherhood Temple.
In addition to housing Danish groups, the structure was home to numerous Scandinavian organizations. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Upper Peninsula Club of Detroit held events at the space.
From the 1940s to the 1960s, socialist lectures were held here. It wasn’t uncommon for ethnic halls to host such meetings, and the structure’s location near Wayne State added gas to the fire, too. Additionally, unions and other community groups utilized the space for events, meetings, and offices.
There may have been a Masonic Hall here in the 1970s, and a church later utilized the structure. In 2012, the structure was purchased, and plans were made to transform it into lofts, a restaurant, and commercial space. They replaced the roof and completed other upgrades. After that, work stopped.
In 2021, the structure was listed through O’Connor for $525,000. It may have sold last year, but I can’t be sure.
Regardless of ownership, this structure’s location, nestled in Woodbridge near Wayne State, makes it a stellar candidate for redevelopment.
Phelps Cocktail Lounge
9000-9006 Oakland Avenue
Neighborhood: North End
Originally the Oakland Theatre, this structure eventually became the Theatre Academie and the Echo Theatre. That said, those aren’t the businesses that made it famous.
By the 1950s, the structure was used as the Bezerte Bar, a black jazz venue. By the 1960s, Edward Phelps owned and operated it as the Phelps Cocktail Lounge. By the late 1960s, the joint had become an institution for traveling and local musicians alike. Etta James, Little Milton, Jackie Wilson, Sam & Dave, James Brown, B.B. King, and numerous others took the stage.
Legend has it that in 1968, during a 10-show run at the Phelps, George Clinton transformed the Parliaments into the Funkadelics here. The Phelps is one of the most essential venues in Detroit’s music history.
In the early 1980s, the structure was nearly burnt down in an arson attempt. To my knowledge, that’s roughly when the club closed. Considering its age, vandalism, and fire damage, it’s in shockingly good shape. The neighborhood around the Phelps has seen a comeback in recent years, and there have always been grassroots organizations looking out for the community and its residents.
Hopefully, music can echo out of the Phelps again someday.
If a quarter of these structures are blessed with a redevelopment, 2024 was a good year. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading! You’d probably enjoy looking at the Historically Significant Map I made, which plots nearly 200 historic structures in Detroit, complete with photographs and detailed histories. If cars are more your thing, check out my archive of found automobiles.
