Detroit, The Motor City Then And Now

Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library

Ransom Gillis House on the corner of John R and Alfred Street in downtown Detroit. Unoccupied since the late 1960s, the Ransom Gillis mansion was ready to crumble when the Rehab Addict team came to the rescue. See how this Detroit landmark was transformed from top to bottom. 

The GAR Building was designed by architect Julius Hess, and constructed at 1942 West Grand River and Cass as an appropriate structure for meetings and other GAR related activities. The cost was split between the Grand Army of the Republic (who paid $6000 of the cost) and the city of Detroit (who paid the remainder of the $44,000 total cost). Construction commenced in 1897 on the five-story building.

This was originally the home of the Conductors Protective Association, a UAW of sorts for train employees. Hence, it was built across Michigan Avenue from Michigan Central Station. It was designed by Alvin E. Harley, who is better known for his residential designs. Check out the vision of this building’s possible future: https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/2411-14th-St-Detroit-MI/17329774/

The Woodstock Apartments are located at 475 Peterboro and were built in 1914. The Beaux-Arts style buildings have 80 apartments in the center of Detroit’s Cass Corridor. During the 1920s, Peterboro Street was home to 12 similar apartment buildings. Today the Woodstock Apartments are the only two such remaining buildings.

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