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A DETROIT ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL
A Detroit architect's journey to help rebuild the Motor City
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022
5,000 SQUARE FEET AND A DEED: THE DETROIT FIRE OF 1805
No one knows when it exactly happened, but sometime around the year 2015 it
flipped. With over 100,000 of Detroit's homeowners falling into foreclosure
since the Great Recession, roughly 53% of Detroit's population are now renters.
For a majority African-American city that enjoyed some of the highest
homeownership rates in the nation, it means fewer families can use their home as
an asset. It means fewer families can pass their most valuable financial asset
generationally down. It is yet another setback in the continuing struggle for
African-Americans to build wealth.
This map provided by the Detroit Future City Implementation Office shows the
increase in rental housing in Detroit. The dark brown area on the perimeter of
the city show where single-family homes have switched in recent years from
owner-occupied to rental. The yellow areas show where rental units have
declined due to population loss.
Photo Credit
Land Holding Families
The French explorer, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac, the founder of Fort
Ponchartrain, was the first European to claim land in Detroit. And he would
grant ownership of land adjacent to the fort to families whose names today are
attached to familiar streets: Brush, Campau, John R, Cass, McDougall, Abbott,
Gouin, Meldrum, Dequindre, Beaufait, Groesbeck, Livernois, Rivard, Hamtramck,
and Cadillac. What may be unfamiliar, is that everyone of these families owned
slaves.
Detail from Aaron Greeley's Map of Private Claims on
Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River and Lake Erie, 1810.
Image courtesy Seeking Michigan.
Photo Credit
Land Lottery
But a fire in 1805, that burned an entire city and displaced 300 of it's
residents, opened an opportunity for its freed and enslaved African-American
residents to become landowners. The US Congress guaranteed that in the re-built
capital city, a free lot, not to exceed 5,000 square feet, would be given to any
adult who was displaced by the fire. In order to fulfill this promise, the new
Michigan Governor, William Hull, divided potential claimants into three classes:
former property owners, heads of households who rented and everyone else. Lots
were laid out using Judge Augustus Woodward's Land Board approved plan. And on
December 31, 1806, the first two classes drew ballots to determine their lots.
The last group drew ballots on Jan. 3, 1807.
"The Detroit Fire: June 11, 1805" painting by Robert Thom (1965)
Photo Credit
At least three free African-Americans (Tom Parker, Elizabeth Cooper and Hannah
at Mrs. Coate's) and seven slaves (Harry, Hannah, Cato at Mrs. Dodemead's,
London, Mary at Watson's, Margaret at Mrs. Voyer's, and Pompey at Mr.
Abbott's) were included in this last class. Though each drew a ballot, only a
handful would actually receive deeds to their property.
List of African-Americans eligible to draw ballots for land after the Detroit
fire of 1805.
Photo Credit
Pompey at Mr. Abbott's
It's believed that Pompey was owned by James Abbott, Jr., a member of one of the
wealthiest families in Detroit. On December 15, 1808, "a deed for lot 24,
section 7, was ordered to be issued to Pomp [sic], a negro man." The deed,
which was eventually issued on April 29, 1809, still survives in the Abbott
family papers at the Burton Historical Collection. The lot is located at 1540
Woodward.
Deed for Pompey at Mr. Abbott's signed in 1809.
Photo Credit
The former slave Pompey died less than 5 years later with no heirs. And in one
last act of injustice, James Abbott sold the lot unlawfully for $300 in 1836
(equivalent to almost $9,000 in today's dollars). Realizing the flaw in the
title, he petitioned the court in 1846 to be appointed administrator of Pompey's
estate on the grounds that his former slave owed him money. The courts obliged
his request and allow him to validate the sale.
1540 Woodward
(Google Maps)
Elizabeth Cooper
On December 19, 1808, a deed for Elizabeth Cooper was drawn up for lot 37 in
section 7. Located at 1228 Woodward, the lot currently is part of a mixed-use
development that will include Detroit's newest skyscraper. Having died before
selling her property or leaving instructions within a will, on January 31, 1824
the Land Board relinquished her deed to a group of investors.
1228 Woodward
(Google Maps)
Thomas Parker
On March 18, 1809, a deed for Thomas Parker was drawn up for lot 70 in section
7. Located at 1413 Farmer, it is the current home of the Shinola Hotel. The
1810 census shows Mr. Parker living in the town as head of a household of five
free non-white persons. On April 9, 1816, future Detroit mayor John R. Williams
purchased Mr. Parker's lot for $1,500 (equivalent to almost $30,000 in today's
dollars). A plaque located in Parker's Alley commemorates his ownership.
1413 Farmer
(Google Maps)
Hannah at Mrs. Coate's
On October 3, 1809, Judge Woodward ordered that "Hannah, a negro woman and
Thomas, a mulatto boy" be recognized as free persons and not slaves, despite the
claims of ownership by a Detroiter named John Dodemead. Twelve years after
drawing her ballot, and currently working for Mrs. [Jane] Dodomeade [sic],
Hannah made application for a lot located at lot 51 in section 6 (currently the
northeast corner of Farmer Street and Monroe). But this lot was no longer
available. So the Land Board instead ordered a deed be drawn up for lot 11
section 12. Finally, on March 18, 1822, after a second order, a deed was drawn
up for "Hannah, a woman of colour living with Mrs. Dodemead". The lot is
currently home to a six-story office building at 1922 Cass Avenue.
Six years later, after the deaths of both John and Jane Dodemead, Hannah sold
the property to lawyer George A. O'Keeffe for $40 (equivalent to almost $1,200
in today's dollars). The deed notably does not refer to the seller as "Hannah,
a woman of colour" or "Dodemead's negro", but as Hannah Ashley.
1922 Cass
(Google Maps)
The Others
There were at least 10 other African-American survivors of the 1805 fire that
did not receive property. Six drew lots, but did not apply for deeds. Four
individuals did not even draw for a lot. A $1 fee enacted by the Land Board may
have been an insurmountable barrier for some. Others may have been under the age
of 17 and therefore considered minors.
It's interesting to note that several Detroiters of mixed race received lots.
John Burnett, whose mother was Potawatomie, received lot 83 in section 6
(currently a vacant lot on Bates Street west of Randolph). Mrs. Ann Hall and
Miss Nancy Hall received lots 79 and 75 in section 8, respectively (kitty-corner
lots at the southwest and northwest corners of Griswold and State Street).
Lot locations for Deeds given to African-Americans after the Detroit Fire of
1805.
Photo Credit
Present Day Opportunities
The availability of cheap vacant land offers new opportunities for ownership in
Detroit. And there are no longer Land Boards judging who is allowed to
participant. But present day Detroit is faced with a different set of
challenges. Homes on average were built in 1939 and are in need of significant
improvements. Insurance premiums are typically unaffordable, meaning a
catastrophic fire or theft can cause the loss of ownership. African-American
mortgage applications are disproportionally rejected when compared to all
applications. Water and sewer infrastructure, spread over an area built for a
population of 2 million, is funded by a population of 700,000 and is over 100
years old and in need of significant upgrades. Finally, the lure of suburban
schools, relative safety, jobs and retail opportunities add to the challenges.
Photo Credit
Though the City has found ways to offer African-Americans ownership
opportunities, without addressing these new challenges, there will be slow
progress towards the true goal: To give more African-Americans like Thomas
Parker, Hannah Ashley and Elizabeth Cooper, the pride of owning property. And
more importantly, the ability to pass their financial security down to the
generations that follow.
The Shinola Hotel and Bedrock welcomed guest to Parker's Alley, a walkway behind
the Shinola Hotel in Detroit on Thursday, June 24, 2021. A lot located near the
alley was originally owned by Thomas Parker, Detroit's first Black landowner,
who the alley is named after. The event started with the unveiling of a plaque
dedicated to Thomas Parker mounted on the alley wall.
Rodney Coleman-Robinson, Detroit Free Press
Photo Credit
---
Sewick, Paul, "The story of how four black Detroiters became property owners
after the Great Fire of 1805", Detroit Metro Times, February 1, 2018.
Hillmer, Davis B., Photographic Print, Catalog Number 182.144.651, Detroit
Historical Society.
Fournier, Gregory A., Detroit's Great Fire of 1805, Fornology.com, March 30,
2018.
Detroit Free Press, "How Detroit Looked 103 Years Ago Today", Newspapers.com,
June 11, 1908.
"History of Detroit", Wikipedia.
Gallagher, John, "In Detroit, more people rent hones than own them", March 19,
2017.
Stitt, Chanel, Parker's Alley plaque highlights some of Detroit's first Black
landowners, Detroit Free Press, June 25, 2021.
McGraw, Bill, Detroit's Forgotten History of Slavery, essay taken from Detroit
1967, WSU Press, 2017.
Wilkinson, Mike, Whites get half of mortgages in Detroit, nation's largest
majority black city, Bridge Michigan, June 13, 2019.
Posted by Robert Saxon, Jr. AIA, LEED AP at 10:33 AM No comments:
Labels: Detroit's First African-American Land Owners
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021
ASK NOT WHAT THE OLYMPICS CAN DO FOR DETROIT, BUT RATHER WHAT CAN DETROIT DO TO
FURTHER THE OLYMPIC IDEAL
Olympic bid logo
Detroit Free Press File Photo
Photo Credit
Though delayed by a year, the 2020 Olympics have come and gone. The final
results have been received from Tokyo, and there remains one event that the City
of Detroit continues to hold an Olympic record. Detroit's application to host
the games has been rejected more times than any other country. Nine if you're
still counting.
The dream of Detroit hosting the 1968 games begins with Fred Matthaei. His
leadership drove efforts to host the games in 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956,
1960, 1964, 1968 and 1972. Detroit's closest lose was in 1968, when the games
were awarded to Mexico City. That year's heart breaking story is recounted in
David Maraniss's Once in a Great City: A Detroit City.
Cover of Special report by the Detroit News, September 15, 1963.
Detroit Historical Society
Photo Credit
THE DREAM BEGINS AGAIN
Detroit's 1968 application was solidified with a vote by the US Olympic
Committee. A 32-4 vote dodged a west coast challenge from Los Angeles. This
first hurdle locked two of the fifty-nine International Olympic Committee (IOC)
votes for Detroit. Lock number one was President of the IOC, Avery Brundage,
who was born in Detroit. Lock number two was Chairman of the Detroit Olympic
Committee, Douglas Roby, a Detroiter who played football at Michigan and with
professional connections with Fred Matthaei. A third vote remained unlocked
since it was to be cast by Jewett Garland of Los Angeles. It was unclear if his
allegiance would shift to Detroit.
In a 1963 photo, Kenneth L. Wilson, President of the Olympic Committee (left),
Michigan Gov. George Romney (center), and Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh stand
around an artist's drawing of the proposed Olympic stadium Detroit. //
Photograph courtesy of Richard Bak
Photo Credit
THE DETROIT DELEGATION
The focus now turned to Detroit's presentation to the IOC. To close the deal, a
delegation led by Matthaei was assembled and sent to Baden Baden, Germany. In
addition to Matthaei, Mayor Jerome Cavanaugh and newly elected Governor George
Romney joined the delegation. And to address the ongoing civil rights concerns,
African-Americans Judge Wade H. McCree* and Councilman William Patrick** also
joined the delegation.
An artist's rendering of Olympic Stadium
Photo Credit
THE VENUES
The presentation highlighted a new 110,000-seat Olympic stadium to be built at
the Detroit Fairgrounds and funded by $25 million authorized by the State
Legislature. And to deal with the stadium's distance from Detroit's downtown,
an unfunded monorail system was proposed to be built. Leading Detroit's design
credentials were architects Louis Rossetti and Oscar Stonorov.
Additional venues scattered throughout the City included: Cobo Arena, Tiger
Stadium, Olympia Stadium, Brodhead Armory, the Light Guard Armory on 8 Mile
Road, University of Detroit and Wayne State University athletic facilities, Lake
St. Clair, Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Brennan Pools at Rouge Park and
the Bloomfield Open Hunt Club in Bloomfield Hills. New construction included an
Olympic Village adjacent to the campus of Wayne State, a Shooting Range and
Rowing & Canoeing Facility added to Belle Isle and a new Velodrome to be
constructed at the State Fair Grounds. [See blog on The Dorais Park
Velodrome that was actually completed in 1969]
An artist's rendering of monorail system at Olympic stadium
Photo Credit
THE PRESENTATIONS
Detroit was the third city to present after Lyon, France and Buenos Aires,
Argentina. The theme of Detroit's Presentation: "The City asks not what the
Olympics can do for Detroit, but rather what can Detroit do to further the
Olympic ideal" played on President Kennedy's words during his 1960 campaign
visit. Matthaei, Mayor Cavanaugh and Governor Romney took turns presenting. By
film, President Kennedy offered Detroit's official invitation. Global track
star Rafer Johnson filmed an endorsement. The presentation was interrupted by
applause 12 times. And according to Maraniss's account, was considered the best
presentation the IOC had ever seen.
Film submitted by Detroit in 1965 as part of its bid to host the Olympic games
in 1968. Produced by Detroit based Jam Handy Company
King Rose Archives
Video Credit
The final city, Mexico City, presented last. Four well prepared speakers with no
visuals argued their case. The words conveyed their city's history, abilities
and facilities, it's $2.80 per diem (undercutting Detroit by 20 cents) and a
medical explanation of its altitude having no effect on athletes. Finally, they
argued for the enduring message it would send the world by awarding the games to
Latin America, a place that had never hosted the games.
Proposed design for Olympic village
Photo credit
THE VOTE
Fifty-nine votes were distributed among members of the IOC: Europe - 34 (27 free
world, 7 iron curtain). Asia - 9. Africa - 5. North and Central America - 8.
Australia and New Zealand - 3.
Fifty-eight votes were cast in the final vote: Mexico City 30, Detroit 14, Lyon
12, Buenos Aires 2. Detroit was one vote shy of a second round. Detroit had
lost the entire Soviet bloc, a few European votes and one of three US votes.
Yes, Los Angeles continued to hold their grudge against Detroit.
What if Detroit hosted the 1968 Olympics?
detroitisdifferent.com
Photo Credit
WHAT IF?
But what if Detroit won the 1968 games? Would the 1967 rebellion have
happened? Would the city's racial divisions temporarily healed through the
common goal of hosting the games? How would Tommie Smith's and John Carlos's
glove-fist power salutes have played if it was in Detroit? Would the Detroit
Lions have stayed in Detroit instead of moving to Pontiac in 1975? Would
Detroit have a modern transit system?
These are questions that have no definitive answers. But I have to believe,
that with the world's eyes focused on Detroit, with so many promises of renewal
and modernization, that the trajectory of Detroit's job and population lost
would have at least slowed, if not stopped. A guarantee of Olympic construction
and infrastructure projects would have infused the City with new jobs. And with
international exposure, Detroit would have been spared its current inability to
attract the attention of tax generating businesses. And would the city's
promise to live the Olympic ideal, by focusing the City's population on one
goal, have prevented the 1967 rebellion? Would the Tiger's 1968 World Series
win capped a summer of racial unity instead of division? Maybe. If only we had
a time machine to find out.
----
*1968 Detroit Olympic Delegation Member Judge Wade H. McCree would be the first
African-American appointed as a United States Circuit Judge of the United States
Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the second African-American United
States Solicitor General in the history of the United States.
Photo Credit
**1968 Detroit Olympic Delegation member William Patrick was the first
African-American elected to the Detroit City Council, formerly known as the
Detroit Common Council, in 1957.
Photo Credit
----
Maraniss, David, Once in a Great City: A Detroit Story, Simon and Schuster
Paperbacks, 2015.
Stanton, Zack, "How Detroit Almost Hosted the '68 Olympics", Zack Stanton Blog,
December 17, 2013.
https://medium.com/@zackstanton/how-detroit-almost-hosted-the-68-olympics-d5a2dd410e
Szymanski, Stefan, "Going for Gold: Detroit's nine attempts to get Olympics came
up empty", Detroit Free Press, July 30, 2016.
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/07/30/detroit-summer-olympic-bids/87838104/
"The Sports City", Detroit Historical Society Blog, July 9, 2012
https://detroithistorical.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/the-sports-city/
Vachon, Paul, "Detroit's Failed Bid to Host the 1968 Olympics", Hour Detroit,
June 20, 2012.
https://www.hourdetroit.com/community/detroits-failed-bid-to-host-the-1968-olympics/
Posted by Robert Saxon, Jr. AIA, LEED AP at 4:42 PM No comments:
Labels: Olympics
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017
THE NATIONAL
How many times have you walked or driven by it? A solitary structure that
stands defiantly as a reminder of what once was.
photo credit: R.Saxon
Albert Kahn's' National Theater is the only surviving theater in what was
Detroit's first entertainment district. Designed in partnership with Ernest
Wilby, it would be Kahn's only theater. Today, it sits prominently at 118
Monroe Street slowly decaying. Like an abandoned and rusting vintage car, it's
not hard to imagine restoring what was once a magnificent entertainment venue.
But the relentless clock of Mother Nature is loudly ticking off the few
remaining days for its rescue.
The National Theater shortly after opening
Photo Credit (State Historic Preservation Office)
The National Theater light at night
Photo Credit (Manning Bros.)
The 800 seat theater opened on September 16, 1911, surrounded by the old Detroit
Opera House, the Gayety, Temple, Columbia, Liberty and Family theaters. Two 65
foot high towers, capped with gold domes, flank its symmetrical facade. They
contain staircases that give patrons access to the theater's balcony. Between
the towers, one enters the theater through what was once a large stained glassed
archway. A white terracotta skin from Detroit's Pewabic Pottery encases its
north facade. Stone carved eagles, rosettes, cupids and other details cover
the facade that was lit up at night by hundreds of lights.
Main Entrance
Photo Credit
Ticket Booth and Entrance
Photo Credit
The theater opened as a live-act and vaudeville venue, but quickly changed to
motion pictures after competition from the opening of The Madison in 1917.
Because of its small size, it proved difficult to compete. By the 1940s, the
theater became Detroit's biggest and best Burlesque venue. Its success continue
into the 1960s (refer to this link for a video produced by Preservation
Detroit). It wouldn't be until the 1970s that Burlesque's popularity began to
fade. For a brief period, under the new name The Palace, the theater featured
adult films. But by 1975, the theater was forced to closed. On February 13,
1975, the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
View from the Stage
Photo Credit
View of the stage from the upper balcony
Photo Credit
Today, the theater is owned by the City of Detroit. Dan Gilbert's Rock
Ventures has proposed saving the theater's facade and preserving it as a gateway
to its proposed mixed-use Monroe block redevelopment. Negotiations between the
two continue, without the support of many of the City's preservationist groups.
These groups continue to hope for the theater's full restoration.
Bedrock’s current plan to save the facade and use it
as a gateway to a new mixed-use development.
Photo Credit (Robin Runyan)
----------
Austin, Dan, "National Theater", HistoricDetroit.org.
Runyan, Robin, "Can the National Theater be Saved?", Curbed Detroit, Sept. 29,
2017.
"National Theatre", Detroit-ish.com.
McGraw, Bill, "Raw Video: A Rare Visit Inside Detroit's Long-Abandoned National
Theater", Deadline Detroit Lifestyle, Jan. 17, 2014.
Posted by Robert Saxon, Jr. AIA, LEED AP at 9:58 AM 1 comment:
Labels: Albert Kahn, Theater
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
DETROIT WALKING TOUR
Its amazing to see how many buildings are under renovation downtown. So, while
taking a lunchtime stroll, I decided to take pictures of some of the historic
Detroit buildings currently under renovation. Where possible, you can contrast
my picture with an historic photo of the building.
Farwell Building (1915)
Photo Credit
Photo Credit: R.Saxon Jr.
Named after Jesse H. and Emmer J. Farwell, the building opened in 1915.
Designed by architect Harrie W. Bonnah, the building was home to attorneys,
dentist and other professionals. The interior was designed entirely by Louis
Comfort Tiffany and was best known for its vaulted dome lobby with thousands of
inlaid tiffany glass pieces. Kraemer Design Group is the lead renovation
Architect. The finished building will contain 82 residential apartments.
The David Stott Building (1929)
Photo Credit
Photo Credit: R.Saxon Jr.
Designed by architectural firm of Donaldson and Meier, the Art-Deco styled
building open in 1929. Because of the Great Depression, it was the last
skyscraper built in Detroit until the mid-1950s. The ground floor was once home
to the SkyBar Lounge. Purchased by Bedrock Real Estate Service (Dan Gilbert) in
2015, it is undergoing a complete restoration with a scheduled opening in 2018.
T.B. Rayl Building (1915)
Photo Credit
Photo Credit: R.Saxon
Designed by Wirt Rowland, the building opened in 1915 and was home to T.B. Rayl
Co., a retail hardware firm. In 1925, the small structure next door was
acquired, demolished and replaced by an addition. The cornice was also removed
and an 8th floor was added. In 1956, Meyer Jewelry acquired ownership and made
the building its headquarters. In 1983, Eastern Wig and Hair Company made the
building its home until 2014 when it was purchased by Dan Gilbert. A joint
venture between Dan Gilbert's Bedrock Ventures and Shinola is renovating the
building into the Shinola Hotel. Work began in 2017.
Elliott Building (Old Kresge) (1894)
Photo Credit
Photo Credit: R.Saxon Jr.
Detroit entrepreneur and developer, William Elliot, opened the building in
1894. Five years later, the ground floor would be occupied by the nation's
first S. S. Kresge Five and Dime store. Originally designed by Wilson Brothers &
Company of Philadelphia, the building would remain home to Kresge until 1959.
Various retailers would control the ground floor space until Elliott Building,
LLC acquired ownership. The new owners hired the Kraemer Design Group to lead a
design team renovating the building. When completed, the building will contain
23 loft-style apartments with ground floor retail space.
Metropolitan Building (Jeweler's Building) (1925)
Photo Credit
Photo Credit: R.Saxon Jr.
In 1919, George Yost came up with the idea of centralizing a single trade into
one building. Thus was born the Metropolitan Building. Opening in May of 1926,
the building became informally known as the jewelers building since it housed
jewelers and related businesses. Designed in the Gothic Revival style by the
architectural firm of Weston & Ellington, the Detroit Free Press described the
building as "one of the most unique shopping and merchandising centers ever
built in America." Succumbing to Detroit's declining commercial activity, the
building changed hands multiple times until closing in 1979.
A $32 million dollar renovation is now underway to covert the building into the
Element Detroit at the Metropolitan Building, a 110 room hotel. The design team
is being lead by Quinn Evans Architects and Patrick Thompson Design. A joint
venture between the Means Group and the Roxbury Group, the hotel hopes to open
in the summer of 2018.
The Vinton Building (1917)
Photo Credit
Photo Credit: R.Saxon Jr.
Named after Robert K. Vinton, a prominent Detroit building contractor, this
Albert Kahn designed building opened in 1917. In 1922, the building was
purchased by the Guaranty Trust Co. and the building became known as the
Guaranty Building. But after the Great Depression, the bank lost its ownership
rights. Ownership continued to change hands multiple times until its closing in
the 1990s. In 2015, Dan Gilbert gained ownership and in 2017 began renovation
of the building into apartments.
---------------
Farwell Building
Austin, Dan, Farwell Building, Historic Detroit.org
Runyan, Robin, "Capitol Park Updates: New Residential Construction Planned;
Farwell Restoration Begins," Curbed Detroit, August 30, 2016.
David Stott Building
Runyan, Robin, "Checking in on the Restoration of the David Stott Building,"
Curbed Detroit, June 27, 2017.
Profile on the David Stott Building, SkyscraperPage.com.
T.B. Rayl Building
T B Rayl Company Building, mgsmith, Flickr.
Rayl's Hardware on Griswold Street, Detroit Public Library, Digital Collections
T.B. Rayl Company Building/Meyer Jewelry Building, Detroit-ish.com.
Runyan, Robin, "The Shinola Hotel Takes Shape in Downtown Detroit,", Curbed
Detroit, August 24, 2017.
Elliott Building
King, R.J., "Elliott Building in Downtown Detroit Completes $21M Financing
Package,", DBusiness Daily News, August 19, 2016.
Lower Woodward Avenue Historic District, Wikipedia.
Metropolitan Building
Austin, Dan, Metropolitan Building, HistoricDetroit.org.
Runyan, Robin, "The Metropolitan Buildng Officially Starts Redevelopment into
Element Detroit Hotel," Curbed Detroit, August 29, 2017.
Vinton Building
Vinton Building, HistoricDetroit.org.
Beshouri, Paul, "Vinton Rehab Adds Apartments, Skywalk, Tiny Roof Deck," Curbed
Detroit, May 15, 2015.
Posted by Robert Saxon, Jr. AIA, LEED AP at 12:00 AM No comments:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2017
THE NEW ROGELL
As an urban planner, I've always been fascinated by how cities grow. Populations
rise. Farmland gets paved over. Housing tracks turn into apartment complexes.
Office complexes rise into skyscrapers. But occasionally, pockets of land go
untouch. Magically frozen in time, these pockets give present day visitors a
glimpse into the past.
The Rogell Golf Club formerly located at 18601 Berg
(where the Rouge River passes under Grand River Blvd.)
sits surrounded by the neighborhoods of northwest Detroit
(Malvern Hill, Oak Grove, Bentler-Pickford and Old Redford)
The Rogell Golf Club in northwest Detroit is a pocket. A golf course designed
by perhaps the game's two most renowned course designers, surrounded by a City
that developed around it. It briefly survived as Michigan's first
African-American owned golf course. Today, it sits awaiting new life.
The Story of New Rogell begins in...
1872
Banned from the City's prestigious social and dramatic clubs, The Phoenix Club
was opened as a place where the Jewish elite could dine, socialize, play
billiards, bowl and stage performances. Max Fisher, whose name adorns the
Detroit Orchestra's current home, becomes one of its first and most prominent
members.
1913
Wishing to add a golf course, the club purchases 113 acres of land in a village
near the present day city of Redford. Straddling the Rouge river, architect Jack
Bendelow designs a nine-hole course. It would be one of 54 courses designed by
the Architect in the state of Michigan.
1920
As golf's popularity increases, the course becomes self-sustaining. Separating
itself from the club, the course is sold to the city of Redford and becomes the
Redford Country Club on January 1, 1920.
1921
Legendary golf course designer Donald Ross is hired to redesign and upgrade the
course to 18-holes. From the middle tees, the course measures 5,838 yards and
plays to a 68.1(course rating)/123 (course slope).
1926
Wishing to continue expansion, the Phoenix Club moves to a new location. The
facility is sold and a new course is designed by Donald Ross on 400 acres of
farmland in Farmington Hills. Albert Kahn designs the clubhouse for the new
Franklin Hills Country Club.
1945
The Redford Country Club is sold to the City of Detroit for $174,000.
1979
The Club is re-named after Detroit Tigers Shortstop and longtime councilman Bill
Rogell. Rogell led the Tigers to a World Series victory over the Chicago Cubs
in 1935. He would serve 36 years on City Council and would be honored with
throwing the first pitch at the last game held at Tiger Stadium.
2007
The Golf course is purchased by the Greater Grace Temple from the City of
Detroit for $2.5 million. It becomes the first Black-owned golf course in the
state of Michigan. The course is renamed The New Rogell. It becomes one of
only six African-American owned coursed in the United States.
2013
Arguing they are unable to make the course profitable, the church closes the
course. The church struggles to maintain the site. They also fail to gain city
approval to sell the property to a developer wishing to convert the course into
a cemetery.
(Credit: Mike Campbell/WWJ Newsradio 950)
photo credit
2017
The City of Detroit Planning and Development Department in collaboration with
neighborhood residents and community organizations continues to actively work on
a comprehensive neighborhood plan for Northwest Detroit along the Grand River
corridor. Essential to this vision is a discussion about the future of the
Rogell Golf Course. Proposed new uses include productive landscapes, summer and
winter trails, outdoor education, habitat creation, horse stables and riding,
playgrounds, sports fields and of course golf. Final community meetings were
held in May 2017.
---------------------
"Greater Grace Temple Celebrates the Purchase of the 'New Rogell Golf Course",
AmericaJR, June, 30, 2007, http://americajr.com/news/rogell-golf-course.html
"Franklin Hills Country Club", Jewish Historical Society of Michigan,
http://www.michjewishhistory.org/gallery/2017/05/franklin-hills-country-club.html.
McCafferty, Art, "Michigan Golf Architects: Tom Bendelow - Golf's Johnny
Appleseed", Michigan Golfer Magazine, May/June 2004,
http://www.michigangolfer.com/may04/may0504-4.pdf.
The Original Golf Blogger, "New Rogell Golf Course Review and Requiem", Golf
Blogger.com, May 16, 2013,
https://golfblogger.com/new_rogell_golf_course_review_and_requiem/.
"Residents Protest Detroit Church's Overgrown Golf Course", CBS Detroit, Sept.
10, 2014,
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/09/10/residents-protest-detroit-churchs-overgrown-golf-course/.
GolfClubAtlas.com, Ross's Courses, page 9,
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=41570.40;wap2
"Billy Rogell", Wikipedia, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Rogell
McDaniel, Pete, "Saving Grace", Golf Digest, July 28, 2008,
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/gw20080801mcdaniel
Posted by Robert Saxon, Jr. AIA, LEED AP at 10:56 PM 1 comment:
Labels: Golf, Rogell
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2017
GUARDIAN BUILDING BRIDGE
Photo credit: Rob Saxon
Walking along Larned to work each day, I make it a point to gaze up. Towering
over morning commuters is a skybridge that connects two of Detroit's most iconic
skyscrapers: The Art Deco style Guarding Building and the International style
One Woodward. The bridge's sleekly polished metal panels and rounded corners
pays no respect to either style. And like a meat skewer, shamelessly pierces the
skin of both buildings and connects their internal arteries.
Skybridge connecting One Woodward (left) and
The Guardian Building (right)
photo credit: Esoteric Survey
Each day I look up and the curious designer in me asks:
Why was the bridge placed so high?
On the Guardian side, the bridge inserts into a large slot cut into the
building's southeast corner. The dramatic modification is increased by the
corner's taper. Because the bridge isn't perpendicular to the Guardian
building's exterior, one can see the bridge penetrating into the building. And
because the bridge's east facade isn't flush with the Guardian's facade, the
design gives the illusion that the opening isn't quite large enough.
The Skybridge inserts into an opening cut into
the southeast corner of the Guardian Building
photo credit: Roadside Architecture.com
On One Woodward's side, the bridge is almost perfectly centered on the north
face. The building's delicate skin is pierced with the precision of a needle.
The bridge surgically connects into what appears to be a former public restroom,
but there is no hint of how the bridge is supported. The engineer in me wonders
what amount of shear force would cause the bridge to break catatrophically from
the face of the building.
Skybridge connection to One Woodward
Photo credit: Rob Saxon
Using the internet to find documentation on the bridge proved difficult. But
despite limited information, below is the story of two buildings and its
mysterious skybridge. I welcome photos or comments that fill in missing
information.
1929
The story begins in 1929 with the construction of the 36-story Guarding
Building. Originally known as the Union Trust Building, it was designed by Wirt
C. Rowland, who at the time was employed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. Known
today as The Smith Group JJR, the historic firm is located on the building's
17th floor. It was nicknamed the Cathedral of Finance and is particularly known
for it's vaulted Lobby and pewabic tile decorated Banking Hall. After an award
winning renovation, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
By I, Mikerussell
Photo Credit
By Michael Barera
Photo Credit
1958
In 1958, Minoru Yamasaki, in association with Smith, Hinchman and Grylls, is
asked to design a headquarters for the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company
(nicknamed "Michcon"). Michcon was created by the merger of four gas companies
in 1937. And in 1949, The American Natural Gas Company or ANR became its parent
company. This would be Yamasaki's first skyscraper and he would later use many
of its design elements on in his more famous World Trade Center formerly located
in New York City. The new skyscraper became known as the ANR building. It would
later be renamed One Woodward.
One Woodward Avenue
Minoru Yamasaki
photo credit
1972
By the 1970s, employees of both Michcon and ANR were located in both buildings.
To ease movement between the two buildings, the Detroit based architectural firm
Rossetti Associates, was hired to design and oversee the construction of a
bridge. More specifically, to design a bridge giving Guardian Building
employees access to One Woodward's cafeteria (see citation). The bridge was
therefore located at the Guarding Building's 16th floor and at One Woodward's
15th floor. Quoting a former employee of ANR, "For several years, the company
cafeteria was in One Woodward, so the skywalk was handy." (see citation)
1990s
By the 1990s, ANR had divested itself of Michcon and relocated its employees.
Remaining Michcon employees were relocated to the adjacent Guardian building.
The ANR building was sold and re-named One Woodward. It's at this time that I
believe the bridge is closed.
Khalil Rahal, Interim Director of the Wayne County
Economic Development Corp., walks across the unused bridge
Photo credit: Glenn Triest
2000s
Michcon is reorganized as the MCN Energy Group. In 2001, the MCN Energy Group
merges with DTE Energy. One year later, DTE Energy sells the Guardian Building
to a private real estate investor: The Sterling Group.
In 2005, David Shock commissioned a proposal to convert the skybridge into a
bar. Three designers at M1/DTW, Christian Unverzagt, Kristen Dean and Emily
Kutil, complete the design. Below are photos borrowed from the proposal. The
design is reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. I can almost
feel myself floating weightless through the space. Go to this link for
additional photos.
Photo credit: M1/DTW
Photo credit: M1/DTW
Photo credit: M1/DTW
In 2007, The Sterling Group sold The Guardian Building to Wayne County. To this
day, David Shock continues to work on gaining the County's support for his
skybar proposal (see article in Curbed Detroit).
In 2012, Dan Gilbert's Rock Ventures purchased One Woodward. The building is
renamed Fifth Third at One Woodward in 2014 after Fifth Third Bank agrees to
relocate it's headquarters in the building.
In 2018, the bridge is outfitted with lights making it a "floating bar of
lights". Designed by artist Phillip K. Smith, III and facilitated by the
Detroit's Library Street Collective Gallery, the bridge is adorned with shifting
colored lights. In the words of Smith,
> "By day, the Skybridge will continue to be seen as its historical self within
> the architecture and massing of downtown. But by night, it will become a
> beacon for the beauty, creativity, and innovation of Detroit."
"Floating Bar of Lights" designed by Phillip K. Smith, III and facilitated
by the Detroit's Library Street Collective Gallery
Photos Credit: Lance Gerber
---------------
Wikipedia, Guardian Building, Website.
Wikipedia, One Woodward Avenue, Website.
Discuss Detroit, Guardian Building Skybridge, Website.
Tsai, Janis, "The Surprising Link Between Detroit's One Woodward Avenue and the
Original World Trade Center," Daily Detroit, Sept. 14, 2015.
Michigan Modern, Michigan Consolidated Gas Company Building, Website.
McGeen, Denise, Historic Detroit, One Woodward Avenue, Website.
"A 7 Year Fight for the Guardian Building's Tube Bar Proposal," Curbed Detroit,
March 12, 2012.
DTE Energy, A History as a Natural Gas Utility, Website.
Funding Universe, ANR Pipeline Co. History, Website.
M1/DTW, United Bar, Website.
DeVito, Lee, 'Detroit Skybridge' will turn into 'a floating bar of light' this
weekend', Detroit MetroTimes, August 22, 2018.
Posted by Robert Saxon, Jr. AIA, LEED AP at 3:40 PM 1 comment:
Labels: Guardian Building, One Woodward, Skybridge
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Robert Saxon, Jr. AIA, LEED AP Rob is a practicing registered architect in the
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