Ransom Gillis House in Brush Park

[masterblaster]

October 4, 2018, once a lonely ruin the Ransom Gillis House is now in the center of the massive redevelopments of Brush Park. Read more here >>


The Completely Restored Ransom Gillis House - December 3, 2015


Ransom Gillis House - August 2, 2000


Ransom Gillis House Oct. 24, 2015


Ransom Gillis House Sept. 25, 2015


Ransom Gillis Low Point 2005


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Nicole Curtis announces at the 52 second mark of the interview.

If you have a twitter account, she tweeted a photo of the house.

http://www.wxyz.com/news/rehab-addic...ts-wxyz-studio

[Mackinaw]

Excellent news!

[Zads07]

If you have a twitter account, she tweeted a photo of the house.

Oddly enough, she took down the photo a few hours after tweeting it out.

On a side note, I've walked past this home hundreds of times hoping one day someone would restore it. Can't wait to see the plans she has in store for this historic home.

[hybridy]

Oh wow! One of my favorites in the city. This is a good thing

[rex]

didn't realize this was a work in progress. Had to image this house. Its seen better days but its also seen worse. This is pretty cool.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

That is a major undertaking. I wish Nicole Curtis could take on the entire city!

[animatedmartian]

I've actually been inside this house for a TV show that was filmed here. All the interior walls are absolute brick and the place looked about as solid as a nuclear bunker. These Brush Park homes are probably some of the most unique homes in all of SE Michigan and I don't have any doubt that Nicole Curtis will make this home shine. I've never watched any episodes of rehab addict but I've watched other shows on HGTV so I think I came safely assume they won't be doing a half-ass job.

[EL Jimbo]

I've actually been inside this house for a TV show that was filmed here. All the interior walls are absolute brick and the place looked about as solid as a nuclear bunker. These Brush Park homes are probably some of the most unique homes in all of SE Michigan and I don't have any doubt that Nicole Curtis will make this home shine. I've never watched any episodes of rehab addict but I've watched other shows on HGTV so I think I came safely assume they won't be doing a half-ass job.

Like all HGTV projects expect the following trendy home design things to be included:

Open Floor Plan
Stainless Steel Appliances
Hardwood Floors
Granite Countertops

My wife watches that network a lot and it doesn't matter what show or what episode, those 4 things ALWAYS come up.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

Like all HGTV projects expect the following trendy home design things to be included:

Open Floor Plan
Stainless Steel Appliances
Hardwood Floors
Granite Countertops

My wife watches that network a lot and it doesn't matter what show or what episode, those 4 things ALWAYS come up.

Well now, those things USUALLY come up but not always. They do NOT come up on Nicole Curtis Rehab Addict, so its painfully obvious you have never seen her show. If your wife has, she failed to tell you that Nicole Curtis' rehab projects do not follow that pattern - at all.

Nobody is less of a fan of today's "open concept" floor plan than Nicole is, and nobody goes to as great of lengths to retain period details [[including such things as original sinks and plumbing fixtures, original bathroom tile, original kitchen cabinets, and so on) than Nicole does. She was giddy upon seeing the E. Grand Blvd house for the first time because it had original bathrooms intact and she could keep them after being spruced up.

That being said, I have no idea what she will do in a shell of house like the Ransom Gillis house is, but I'm sure it will not be a generic project.

[EL Jimbo]

Well now, those things USUALLY come up but not always. They do NOT come up on Nicole Curtis Rehab Addict, so its painfully obvious you have never seen her show. If your wife has, she failed to tell you that Nicole Curtis' rehab projects do not follow that pattern - at all.

Nobody is less of a fan of today's "open concept" floor plan than Nicole is, and nobody goes to as great of lengths to retain period details [[including such things as original sinks and plumbing fixtures, original bathroom tile, original kitchen cabinets, and so on) than Nicole does. She was giddy upon seeing the E. Grand Blvd house for the first time because it had original bathrooms intact and she could keep them after being spruced up.

That being said, I have no idea what she will do in a shell of house like the Ransom Gillis house is, but I'm sure it will not be a generic project.

You're right. I've never seen her show. I go out of my way to avoid that channel if I can because it typically leads to me having more projects on my "honey-do" list.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

You're right. I've never seen her show. I go out of my way to avoid that channel if I can because it typically leads to me having more projects on my "honey-do" list.

I think you should keep the wife from watching!

[AGinthe313]

Ummmm -- I need some remodeling at my house too!

[Zads07]

Big news from the Free Press tonight:

"Details of Gilbert's plan were not available Tuesday, but he and city officials could reveal the project in an official announcement that may come as early as Wednesday, the sources, requesting anonymity, told the Free Press.

In recent weeks Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has hinted that a future Brush Park redevelopment would involve a mix of rehabbing Gilded Age mansions and constructing new housing in the design of the period.

Gilbert's project also could have a celebrity name attached: Nicole Curtis, the host of "Rehab Addict" on the HGTV cable network."

http://www.freep.com/story/money/rea...ment/26942979/

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

An update:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...tion-of-ransom

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

Now this is an interesting tidbit from the Freep:

"The historic, dilapidated, distinctively turreted Ransom Gillis mansion in Detroit's Brush Park is getting ready for prime time and the hands-on design talent of HGTV star Nicole Curtis, a.k.a. the "Rehab Addict."
Curtis will lead the renovation of the 1876-built mansion for an eight-part HGTV series to be sponsored by Quicken Loans, the mortgage lender founded by local billionaire Dan Gilbert, according to a Quicken news release. The series is scheduled to air in November and "will celebrate Detroit." "

http://www.freep.com/story/entertain...rtis/30552271/

[Honky Tonk]

Now this is an interesting tidbit from the Freep:

"The historic, dilapidated, distinctively turreted Ransom Gillis mansion in Detroit's Brush Park is getting ready for prime time and the hands-on design talent of HGTV star Nicole Curtis, a.k.a. the "Rehab Addict."
Curtis will lead the renovation of the 1876-built mansion for an eight-part HGTV series to be sponsored by Quicken Loans, the mortgage lender founded by local billionaire Dan Gilbert, according to a Quicken news release. The series is scheduled to air in November and "will celebrate Detroit." "

http://www.freep.com/story/entertain...rtis/30552271/

You got to give it to Dan, he knows how to make the ladies happy.

[Lowell]

Update pictures from a few days ago.

[gumby]

So happy to see what looks like the original window pillars in the turret were still floating around and able to be used. I hope they were able to save the remaining ornamentation from the top of the windows too or at least replicate them. I hope they plan on rebuilding the second chimney as well, they haven't finished off the soffit area of the roof there like towards the back of the house so it looks like they might. Either way they are definitely not finishing by the end of the month like the one article eluded to.

Update pictures from a few days ago.

[Dbest]

I'm wondering if they will ultimately install a new slate roof? I think anything but slate will detract from the house, especially when you consider the turret .I'm also wondering if they will rebuild the now torn-off porch? Nice pics...


An original pic, check out that slate roof and front porch!

[gumby]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that a new slate roof was planned but I might just be making that up in my head. It appears that the porch will be restored as the base of it has been rebuilt all be it with less fancy cinder blocks. What I am really curious about is what the replacement turret support will look like, whether or not they rebuild the dormer and of course the second chimney like I mentioned in my last post.

I'm wondering if they will ultimately install a new slate roof? I think anything but slate will detract from the house, especially when you consider the turret .I'm also wondering if they will rebuild the now torn-off porch? Nice pics...


An original pic, check out that slate roof and front porch!

[Dbest]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that a new slate roof was planned but I might just be making that up in my head. It appears that the porch will be restored as the base of it has been rebuilt all be it with less fancy cinder blocks. What I am really curious about is what the replacement turret support will look like, whether or not they rebuild the dormer and of course the second chimney like I mentioned in my last post.

i noticed the cinder block porch as well,its pretty noticeable but whatever. Guess we will see what happens, its exciting nonetheless...

[old guy]

My guess is that the block wall is structural considering the size of the structure. It looked in the the photo as though they saved the existing blocks where they could. I can't imagine they'd do that and not the rest because it would only emphasize the plain block. I would think they could add a facade block to match. A job of this magnitude would really require it. Nice to see stuff like this.

This is the first time I've looked at the photos. Pretty impressive project.

[gumby]

My guess is that the block wall is structural considering the size of the structure. It looked in the the photo as though they saved the existing blocks where they could. I can't imagine they'd do that and not the rest because it would only emphasize the plain block. I would think they could add a facade block to match. A job of this magnitude would really require it. Nice to see stuff like this.

This is the first time I've looked at the photos. Pretty impressive project.

I too was thinking about a facade block. I really hope they rebuild the missing chimneys.

[detroitbob]

It doesn't look like the missing chimneys are in the plans...they would have been added by now and I am somewhat disappointed the missing dormer in the Alfred Street façade isn't being replaced. I also hope they replace the very ornate granite column and detail work supporting the turret along with the base.

[MSUguy]

https://twitter.com/BrushPark