The building was begun in 1926 and completed in 1928.
Here is some history, including it's use as an illegal drinking establishment during prohibition, from the website of Detroit's German-American Cultural Center:
http://www.germanamericanmetrodetroit.org/history.htm
Although this building is not in as terrible an area as many on the east side, being right on the edge of Indian Village, it is hard to imagine any workable use for it now. Sadly, it seems likely to become yet another large, abandoned, perhaps stripped, and non-usable building in this part of town.