Monroe Block Development

[archfan]

From the article, it sounds like the theater may stay, but the other two buildings are going. Ultimately, a 20 story building will be a good thing, but I always liked the thin building across from the Water Board building: https://goo.gl/maps/GC7EczVFbQu

[EastsideAl]

From the article, it sounds like the theater may stay, but the other two buildings are going. Ultimately, a 20 story building will be a good thing, but I always liked the thin building across from the Water Board building: https://goo.gl/maps/GC7EczVFbQu

That little building is the Pochelon Building, built in 1913 for pioneering Detroit florist Albert Pochelon. When built, it had greenhouses on the roof and workshops on the upper floors for Pochelon's then-famous floral creations. The building next door at the corner was built several years later, in a similar style, as the headquarters of the Florists' Telegraph Delivery cooperative [[FTD). Pochelon and fellow Detroit florist [[and one term Mayor) Philip Breitmeyer were among the founders and officers of that organization. Pochelon was also involved in the DAC and was a leading ice yacht racer.

The corner building had a tearoom in it that became part of the heart of Detroit's gay community, which centered around the corner of Farmer and Bates into the late '60s. From WWII into the late '60s the streets around there were blocked off on Halloween for a large street party featuring drag performers.

The corner building was purchased and remodeled in the early '70s by the labor law firm that later became Sachs Waldman. They acquired the adjacent Pochelon Building a few years later, and remained in both buildings until Gilbert's organization purchased them a couple of years ago.