480 Myrtle/MLK Demoltion?

**MSUguy** · March-08-17, 12:11 PM

Noticed on the the city data website a permit to demolish 480 Myrtle was issued on the 6th.

https://data.detroitmi.gov/Property-...xw2a-a7tf/data

Looks to be this house next the Kings Arms, far worse looking home like nearby Scott house are being saved and the last thing area needs is another vacant lot.

https://goo.gl/maps/Zr421QaD41q

**ekleezy** · March-08-17, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by MSUguy

Noticed on the the city data website a permit to demolish 480 Myrtle was issued on the 6th.

https://data.detroitmi.gov/Property-...xw2a-a7tf/data

Looks to be this house next the Kings Arms, far worse looking home like nearby Scott house are being saved and the last thing area needs is another vacant lot.

https://goo.gl/maps/Zr421QaD41q

I remember seeing that house looking that bad over 5 years ago. Only difference is it looks like you can't walk in as easily anymore. I'd say a vacant lot might actually be better than how it is now, but hopefully someone wants to develop it.

**5speedz34** · March-08-17, 03:31 PM

For whatever reason 255 Piper is on that list and listed as being between Petoskey and Broadstreet in Russell Woods. 255 Piper is in Jefferson Chalmers.

I've been told that the owner of Bucharest owns 480 MLK and the retail building at the corner of 2nd and MLK across from Fred's key shop. Is this demo list city owned properties? I always thought this would be a nice house for some sort of first floor retail with an apartment[[or two) above it.

https://goo.gl/maps/h2gy4SuVgsj This apartment building was just torn down on Rosa Parks south of MLK. I was told by someone who claimed to be in the know that the neighbor wanted more land so the city demo'd it. Building was in relatively good shape it seemed. I was also told by the same person that city planning dept was handling demo's now that the land bank was in the midst of federal investigation.

**masterblaster** · March-08-17, 11:25 PM

I always thought that house would make a good bed & breakfast. It would take a lot of money to restore it. It is a very beautiful house. With so much restoration in the area, I am saddened to see it go.

**EastsideAl** · March-09-17, 10:45 AM

Here is an earlier thread on the history of that house:
http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...came-MLD-Drive

**EastsideAl** · March-09-17, 12:00 PM

One of the early occupants of that house, if not the earliest, was Robert Miller, who was Master Car Builder and later General Superintendent of the Michigan Central R.R. His son, Guy Alonzo Miller, who grew up in the house and seems to have taken it over for a while, was an attorney, state rep. and senator, and a Wayne County circuit court judge for 30 years.

Later residents of the house included Edgar and Anna [[Scripps) Whitcomb [[as shown in the 1908 Book of Detroiters and the 1911 Dau's Blue Book of Detroit society). They would later move to a house on their large estate at 383 Lakeshore in G.P. Shores. The Belle Isle Conservatory is named for Anna Scripps Whitcomb.

**gnome** · March-10-17, 03:17 PM

I heard this morning that the building is owned by the Bucharest Grill folks. That could be a baseless rumor as I have not done any cross checking with building records; but I agree that losing such a cool piece of history/architecture is a shame.

**emu steve** · March-10-17, 05:44 PM

BTW, I saw building permits listed for 2305 Park, 2208 Cass, etc....

**Hermod** · March-10-17, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by masterblaster

I always thought that house would make a good bed & breakfast. It would take a lot of money to restore it. It is a very beautiful house. With so much restoration in the area, I am saddened to see it go.

Money is no problem for Dyesers trying to spend other people's money.

**ABetterDetroit** · March-10-17, 07:35 PM

It sucks when this happens. When cool old buildings come down to make way for something else, at least there's the benift of progress whatever it may be. Time marches on, things change.

What is far worse is that in this city, renovation or repurposing never even gets a sliver of an economic chance with the vast majority of the structures. The deck has been heavily stacked against that happening by decades old policy that has failed long ago yet still is implemented in this state.

What a colossal waste. Architecturely, economically and for the advancement of our society.

**JenniferL** · March-11-17, 01:48 AM

Originally Posted by ekleezy

I remember seeing that house looking that bad over 5 years ago. Only difference is it looks like you can't walk in as easily anymore. I'd say a vacant lot might actually be better than how it is now, but hopefully someone wants to develop it.

I looked it up on Google map's street view, which goes back to 2007. The house was abandoned then, and it looked like it had been in that state for quite some time.