  Kimmiann Member Username: Kimmiann Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 155.139.40.51 |
There is an absolutely gorgeous building on the northeast corner of W. Grand Blvd. & Rosa Parks which has intrigued me for some time. I've searched this forum and haven't come up with anything. It appears to be in use, so it probably doesn't qualify as a 'ruin'. Can anybody tell me anything about it? History? Pics? | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 22 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234 |
Boulevard Temple home? | ||
Kimmiann Member Username: Kimmiann Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 155.139.40.51 |
Could be. It has a couple of round towers and is surrounded by a black fence. There appears to be a parking lot around the back side of the building. I'm perpetually running late for work when I drive past the building and have never (I know, shame on me) taken the time to drive around and investigate further. | ||
Chris_rohn Member Username: Chris_rohn Post Number: 167 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.214.190.236 |
 This is a former police precinct, currently the headquarters for Phoenix Development. | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 2552 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.229.125.102 |
Old 5th Precinct? | ||
Kimmiann Member Username: Kimmiann Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 155.139.40.51 |
Yep, that's it! Thanks, bunches. I've been curious about that for a while. Isn't it amazing that police precincts were not always ugly utilitarian square buildings?!? | ||
Super_d Member Username: Super_d Post Number: 627 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.241.247.137 |
Are you sure you got the cross street right? On the corner of Rosa Parks(12th) and West Grand Blvd is the Boulevard Temple as '56packman' stated. Serves as a Recovery/Theraputic/Resident home for Seniors. Well run place, I've had a few relatives that were clients there. I believe before then, it use to be a Detroit Bank In Trust and a Church. super d(motordetroit) | ||
Kimmiann Member Username: Kimmiann Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 155.139.40.51 |
Not entirely sure, no. But the picture above is the one I was looking for. I know it's on Rosa Parks, because I run that up from Fort St. on my way to work. It's the last major cross street before I turn on Forest. | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 5255 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.199.109 |
That building pictured above is at Grand River @ Rosa Parks. | ||
Super_d Member Username: Super_d Post Number: 628 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.241.247.137 |
ooooooh that's right...On the other end of West Grand Blvd. Rosa Parks (12th) also crosses on the other end going north. super d(motordetroit) | ||
Kimmiann Member Username: Kimmiann Post Number: 9 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 155.139.40.51 |
Dang it! I always get those two mixed up. How embarrassing! Especially since I take W. Grand on the way home! Thanks for your patience, much appreciated. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 23 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234 |
OK-isn't that at Grand River and Trumball, not 12th? (R.Parks). That was a mansion before it was a cop shop. Just up Trumball was the Scripps home. That neighborhood used to have some "prominent citizens" living there. | ||
Kimmiann Member Username: Kimmiann Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 155.139.40.51 |
I don't think so. I used to take Trumbell across, but Rosa Parks runs (light timing & traffic flow) better, so I'm sure it's 12th. Of course, after my earlier mix-up, who's going to take my word for it?!? | ||
Citylover Member Username: Citylover Post Number: 1579 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 4.229.123.134 |
Police precints usually represented security and a fortress like appearance. I don't know the ones in Detroit as well as I once did but I think that when looked at almost all of them have a fortress like look to convey the idea of security_ like the one in the picture | ||
Super_d Member Username: Super_d Post Number: 630 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.241.247.137 |
That picture is Grand River not Grand Blvd. super d(motordetroit) | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 762 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.227.216.21 |
people, please; it's trumbull. the corner of trumbull, grand river, and mlk has a four story white brick building directly on the north-east corner, with the trumbull presbyterian church directly behind it. the corner of rosa parks and grand river has the former 5th precinct on it. now houses offices for mel washington's pheonix development co. and castle construction. | ||
Kimmiann Member Username: Kimmiann Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 155.139.40.51 |
Right, Grand River and Rosa Parks, not Trumbull. Does anyone know when it was built or how long it served as a police precinct? | ||
Kimmiann Member Username: Kimmiann Post Number: 12 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 155.139.40.51 |
Sorry for the Trumbell, typo. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 764 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.227.216.21 |
no worries. it looked like it was about to get out of control tho  | ||
Super_d Member Username: Super_d Post Number: 631 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.241.247.137 |
'Kimmiann' welcome! no need to correct yourself__ there are plenty grammer over-see'ers that will do it fo' you on this forum super d(motordetroit) | ||
Cassie1717 Member Username: Cassie1717 Post Number: 23 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
The streets in front of that building are crazy. It's definitely on Grand River, then Rosa Parks kinda comes out of the garage and juts northeast, but Trumbull runs there, too. What a weird circus set-up! | ||
Rrl Member Username: Rrl Post Number: 440 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 71.213.227.199 |
As with most of the public buildings a century ago, most of the police stations were quite grand. Too bad nobody in this town ever sees these beauties for what they are/were, public forms of art. This one was at Farmer & Randolph.  | ||
Rrl Member Username: Rrl Post Number: 441 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 71.213.227.199 |
My bad, attempt no.2  Courtesy WSU | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1365 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
Where is that picture taken from? I can't figure out which corner that is. When was it demoed? | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 5256 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.199.109 |
To answer one of Kimmiann's questions: It was built by Louis Kamper in 1901. | ||
Rrl Member Username: Rrl Post Number: 442 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 71.213.227.199 |
Jsmyers- I'm not certain, but I believe it is on the triangular parcel that is just west of the Wayne Cnty building along Randolph. The Detroit Water & Sewerage Bldg. now occupies that site, and from the looks of that structure, I'd have to put demo sometime around the 20's. What you can't see from the posted photo (I had to crop it to get it up in here) was that the station sat on a triangular site. The front door was facing north-east (me-thinks) | ||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 2659 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.209.188.186 |
The site of the Water Board building is the only one possible. You can see the Ferry Company building clearly in the old photo, which is now the Greektown Casino. Bates would be the street on the left side of the old photo, and Farmer would run to the right. Randolph is behind the old place. | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1367 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
That seems right. The entrance would then be in the SW. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 225 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139 |
The current DPD headquarters building was built in 1921, so that would be around the time the old headquarters pictured above would have been demo'd. Back about 1983 I had the pleasure of showing a group of police officers from Sweden around Detroit. As I took them into the lobby of 1300 Beaubien, it seemed to look particularly dirty and shabby that day. I stated to one of the Swedes, "Our building is starting to show it's age, I'm afraid. It was built in 1921.". He looked about and said, "I see." Pause. "Ours was built in 1400." Boy, the perfect put-down. |
