In the last 15 years, Midtown Detroit has gone from a relative urban wasteland to the crown jewel of Detroit's urban revival. In the post war-era, the neighborhoods immediately north of Detroit's CBD became known as the Cass Corridor, Detroit's version of Skid Row. It was home to drug houses, sleazy hotels, housing projects, and many of the city's social services for the poor. By the 70's and 80's the neighborhood was a well-known legend among suburbanites.
The Cass Corridor was always home to cultural institutions such as the Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, the Detroit Institute of Arts, etc. and even as far back as the late 80's, the neighborhood was seeing pocket revival efforts. However, beginning in the late 90's and especially into the early 00's, the neighborhood began to see dramatic changes. New and renovated housing units as well as shops, galleries and restaurants have been popping up all over the neighborhood. Even the name changed, with Midtown becoming a more popular term for the neighborhood. In the last ten years, it is estimated that the population has increased by several thousand, with most of that gain coming from supposed "hipsters".
These pics were taken a few days ago on a nice fall day.
The Willys-Overland Lofts are in a renovated building once used by a company that would later be more famously known as Jeep:
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An art gallery is the building's first commercial tenant:
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The North Cass Community Garden produces fresh vegetables for neighborhood residents:
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This "upscale resale" shop recently opened:
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A closer view of the backside of the Traffic Jam & Snug restaurant:
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And a shot from the front -- I'm not sure why it has that name...
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The Sheridan Court Apartments are located at the corner of 2nd and Canfield not far from the Wayne State campus:
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The Canfield Lofts are located in an old Buick dealership:
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The Bureau of Urban Living is a home goods store catering to the local hipsters:
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The Motor City Brewing Works is the home of locally famous beers such as Ghettoblaster:
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A view into the West Canfield historic district:
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The block is home to over a dozen Victorian mansions:
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The house on the end is the last house to be renovated:
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The street is made of extremely bumpy cobblestone:
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Nine on Third is a recent addition to the West Canfield district. It wouldn't hurt to add a few flower boxes in the windows.
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A ministry group has taken over the retail space in this 19th century storefronts:
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The Beethoven Apartments were recently renovated into market-rate apartments:
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Twins on Prentis Street:
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No, we're not in New York:
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Detroit's first "green alley" can be see to the left:
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I've always had a thing for the Hollenden:
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More apartments on Forest Ave:
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The Little Asia market caters to the growing Asian population in Midtown:
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Housing along 3rd Street:
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3rd Bar has taken over the former Third Street Saloon:
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A peek at the Hancock Apartments on Hancock Street:
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This historic mansion is now home to the Central Alliance Church:
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Historic homes along Prentis Street:
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Shangri-La is a new Chinese restaurant not far from the Wayne State campus:
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The Mackenzie House and a peek at the Hillberry Theatre on the Wayne State University campus:
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The Thompson home was built in 1884 as a "retirement home" for elderly ladies, but now serves as the School of Social Work for the University:
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Old Main serves as the symbol of Wayne State University. It was originally built in 1896 to serve as the home of Detroit Central High School:
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Though the earliest college of Wayne State dates to 1868, it was in Old Main in 1917, that the Detroit Junior College, precursor to the modern university, was first organized. It became the four year College of the City of Detroit in 1923, and Wayne University in 1933. The "State" was added in 1956:
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Barnes & Noble sits at the corner of Cass and Warren at the heart of the university campus:
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The Science Hall sits at the opposite corner:
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The Maccabees Building is famous for being the "birthplace" of the Lone Ranger when the building was home of to the WXYZ radio and television station. It is now home to university administrative offices:
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The Welcome Center was built several years ago to give the University a "face" along Woodward Avenue:
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"Progress" at the corner of Woodward and Warren as several historic buildings are razed:
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Initially the area will serve as a plaza/commons for the University, but eventually the goal is to have a hotel/conference center at that corner:
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Away from the University, Woodward Avenue was once famous for its massive churches:
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You know you're in Detrorit when a fast food drive-thru thrives in your most urban neighborhood:
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The Detroit Artists Market dates back to 1932 and is one of the oldest art galleries in the nation:
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Many of the shops that were displaced by the demolition shown above have since moved to the new Studio One Apartments further down Woodward:
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Built in 1894, the Whitney House was once the largest private residence in the city. In 1986 the Whitney Restaurant opened in the building and quickly became one of the city's premiere restaurants:
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The 55 West Canfield Lofts were developed by the same man behind the Canfield Lofts further down the street:
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Kim's Produce is one of the few places in the neighborhood offering fresh produce on a daily basis:
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The Raw Cafe will be opening soon in the Majestic complex:
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The Majestic Theatre Complex is a popular hangout for the "hipster" crowd:
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That's all for now... I'll add more later. Hope you enjoyed.
The Cass Corridor was always home to cultural institutions such as the Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, the Detroit Institute of Arts, etc. and even as far back as the late 80's, the neighborhood was seeing pocket revival efforts. However, beginning in the late 90's and especially into the early 00's, the neighborhood began to see dramatic changes. New and renovated housing units as well as shops, galleries and restaurants have been popping up all over the neighborhood. Even the name changed, with Midtown becoming a more popular term for the neighborhood. In the last ten years, it is estimated that the population has increased by several thousand, with most of that gain coming from supposed "hipsters".
These pics were taken a few days ago on a nice fall day.
The Willys-Overland Lofts are in a renovated building once used by a company that would later be more famously known as Jeep:
An art gallery is the building's first commercial tenant:
The North Cass Community Garden produces fresh vegetables for neighborhood residents:
This "upscale resale" shop recently opened:
A closer view of the backside of the Traffic Jam & Snug restaurant:
And a shot from the front -- I'm not sure why it has that name...
The Sheridan Court Apartments are located at the corner of 2nd and Canfield not far from the Wayne State campus:
The Canfield Lofts are located in an old Buick dealership:
The Bureau of Urban Living is a home goods store catering to the local hipsters:
The Motor City Brewing Works is the home of locally famous beers such as Ghettoblaster:
A view into the West Canfield historic district:
The block is home to over a dozen Victorian mansions:
The house on the end is the last house to be renovated:
The street is made of extremely bumpy cobblestone:
Nine on Third is a recent addition to the West Canfield district. It wouldn't hurt to add a few flower boxes in the windows.
A ministry group has taken over the retail space in this 19th century storefronts:
The Beethoven Apartments were recently renovated into market-rate apartments:
Twins on Prentis Street:
No, we're not in New York:
Detroit's first "green alley" can be see to the left:
I've always had a thing for the Hollenden:
More apartments on Forest Ave:
The Little Asia market caters to the growing Asian population in Midtown:
Housing along 3rd Street:
3rd Bar has taken over the former Third Street Saloon:
A peek at the Hancock Apartments on Hancock Street:
This historic mansion is now home to the Central Alliance Church:
Historic homes along Prentis Street:
Shangri-La is a new Chinese restaurant not far from the Wayne State campus:
The Mackenzie House and a peek at the Hillberry Theatre on the Wayne State University campus:
The Thompson home was built in 1884 as a "retirement home" for elderly ladies, but now serves as the School of Social Work for the University:
Old Main serves as the symbol of Wayne State University. It was originally built in 1896 to serve as the home of Detroit Central High School:
Though the earliest college of Wayne State dates to 1868, it was in Old Main in 1917, that the Detroit Junior College, precursor to the modern university, was first organized. It became the four year College of the City of Detroit in 1923, and Wayne University in 1933. The "State" was added in 1956:
Barnes & Noble sits at the corner of Cass and Warren at the heart of the university campus:
The Science Hall sits at the opposite corner:
The Maccabees Building is famous for being the "birthplace" of the Lone Ranger when the building was home of to the WXYZ radio and television station. It is now home to university administrative offices:
The Welcome Center was built several years ago to give the University a "face" along Woodward Avenue:
"Progress" at the corner of Woodward and Warren as several historic buildings are razed:
Initially the area will serve as a plaza/commons for the University, but eventually the goal is to have a hotel/conference center at that corner:
Away from the University, Woodward Avenue was once famous for its massive churches:
You know you're in Detrorit when a fast food drive-thru thrives in your most urban neighborhood:
The Detroit Artists Market dates back to 1932 and is one of the oldest art galleries in the nation:
Many of the shops that were displaced by the demolition shown above have since moved to the new Studio One Apartments further down Woodward:
Built in 1894, the Whitney House was once the largest private residence in the city. In 1986 the Whitney Restaurant opened in the building and quickly became one of the city's premiere restaurants:
The 55 West Canfield Lofts were developed by the same man behind the Canfield Lofts further down the street:
Kim's Produce is one of the few places in the neighborhood offering fresh produce on a daily basis:
The Raw Cafe will be opening soon in the Majestic complex:
The Majestic Theatre Complex is a popular hangout for the "hipster" crowd:
That's all for now... I'll add more later. Hope you enjoyed.
