 
Learningfromdetroit
Member
Username: Learningfromdetroit
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 3:26 pm: |    |
I am looking for people to comment on the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects in Detroit. As a new comer to Detroit and as someone who is trying to see Detroit in a context that stretches a few generations, I was wondering if anyone has lived or has known someone to have lived, or currently lives in the Brewster-Douglass Homes. I am most interested in anecdotes. The point of this research is compile it and look at it in terms of the future of the homes.
Thank you in advance. |
Katelynrose
Member
Username: Katelynrose
Post Number: 22
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 3:29 pm: | |
dana |
Neilr
Member
Username: Neilr
Post Number: 496
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 3:51 pm: | |
Diana Ross lived in Brewster-Douglas as a teen-ager with her family. You might want to read about her early years for her experiences in the neighborhood. After achieving success with Motown, she moved into 1300 East Lafayette. |
Lmichigan
Member
Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 5427
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 4:48 pm: | |
Another interesting fact was that before tenant selection became less selective, and before the crack epidemic, in particular, the Detroit Housing Commission required that of families that moved in, one of the spouses had to be employed. While always public housing, they were actually successful for a time as they were housing for the 'working poor'.
Also, people often refer to just the towers as Brewster-Douglass homes/projects, but the towers were actually part of Brewster-Douglass. The 1,300 units is the high-rise complex were the Frederick Douglass projects/homes completed in the 50's. The 941-unit low-rise portion of the complex were the Brewster projects/homes completed by 1941.
A very interesting fact was that for many years, black Detroiter's were blocked from living in any Detroit Housing Commission housing project but the Brewster project. |
Lmichigan
Member
Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 5428
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 4:52 pm: | |
The Supremes in Brewster-Douglass circa 1965 courtesy of the Detroit News Archives:
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Quozl
Member
Username: Quozl
Post Number: 494
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 5:28 pm: | |
The complex was home for actress Lily Tomlin as she grew up there too.
In 1935 First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt broke ground for the Brewster Homes, the nation’s first federally funded public housing development for African Americans. The homes opened in 1938 with 701 units. When completed in 1941 there were 941 units bounded by Beaubien, Hastings, Mack and Wilkins Streets. Residents were required to be employed and there were limits on what they could earn. Former residents described Brewster as ‘community filled with families that displayed love, respect and concern for everyone in a beautiful, clean and secure neighborhood.’
Built between 1935 and 1938, the original Brewster Homes were 2 story row houses and 3 story apartment buildings.
The Douglass apartment buildings were built in 1952 by Harley, Ellington & Day Architects. These six, 14-story high rises were accompanied by two story row houses bringing the inhabitation of the Brewster-Douglass Homes between 8,000 – 10,000 people. |
Lmichigan
Member
Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 5429
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 5:39 pm: | |
More photos:
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93typhoon
Member
Username: 93typhoon
Post Number: 19
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 9:25 am: | |
what is the current status? i see a number of boarded up windows as I go by on the e-way. |
Cub
Member
Username: Cub
Post Number: 30
Registered: 02-2007
| | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 12:59 pm: | |
There is Old Slumpy ^^^LOL |