The Degens- another old apartment building going to be demo'd

[DetroitZack]

I noticed another one of them signs on this building that says the State of Michigan Land Bank Authority Fast Track Authority will demolish this structure.

[ordinary]

Interesting looking building. Where is it located?

[PeterhuntPrincess]

It is on Cortland street north of Woodward in HP, across the street from my old job. There are many beautiful buildings merely falling apart all around the area, including 6 closed schools. They are going to close another school this year I bet...

[barnesfoto]

My Great-Aunt lived in the first floor apt. on the left, many years ago. Typical 1920's apt. building with studios and one bedrooms.

[Rocko]

It's unfortunate, but even though many of these are architecturally significant, or have architecturally significant features, they cannot really be saved unless they are on the National Register of Historic Places, or are eligible for such....and that doesn't even mean they are protected! It just means a review process must be completed if federal demo dollars will be used, to see what the impact will be. We need more groups like SW Housing Solutions, which has a track record of successfully rehabbing historic apartment buildings around the city and returning them to use!

It's too bad to see another old apartment building go. There are two at Lafayette W. and Cavalry which will come down soon, too.

[9mile&seneca]

Detroit: Cleveland, but without the buildings

[Rocko]

For a bit of related good news though:

Model D Media

Tenants to begin moving into Beethoven Apartments next month

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Beethoven apartment building located on Third at Prentis will be ready to begin accepting tenants early in February. Developer Scott Lowell says the completion of construction was delayed due to the historical tax credit process, which necessitated the addition of windows to the building's balconies. "We learned a lot of lessons with this one that are really going to help us with the Forest Arms," he says, referring to the large, fire-damaged building, also located in Midtown, that he also is working to rehab.

The delay cost some tenants, but four that signed pre-leases last year have remained committed, leaving 24 apartments on the market. The 22 one-bedroom apartments rent from $550 to $625 and the two-bedroom units for $1,100.

Two ground-floor commercial spaces will lease for $1 to $1.50 a square foot; one is approximately 1,100 square feet and the other is 900. Lowell hopes to attract a food-oriented business to the larger space and a retail one to the smaller.

The building has on-site laundry, bike storage, parking and free DSL -- plus a rooftop deck. Read more about The Beethoven and Lowell's commitment to its overall energy efficiency here.

For leasing information, contact Steve Gross at 313-930-0179.

Source: Scott Lowell, developer
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh