Saturday, April 11, 2009

An existing Detroit coop

[From Wikipedia]

The 1300 Lafayette East Cooperative is a large apartment building on the near-east side of Detroit, Michigan, facing the Detroit River and Windsor, Ontario, with its address "1300" printed in such large letters on its roof, that it can be read from Windsor.

The building was constructed in 1961, and stands at 29 floors, incorporating a ground floor with lobby, meeting, and commercial space, a mezzanine with a party room and offices for rent to residents, and 28 residential floors. The building is constructed atop a two-floor underground parking garage. It is composed of mostly steel, concrete, and glass incorporating the Modern architectural style.

Originally designed as an apartment building, it has housed a number of notable residents, including Diana Ross. It fell on hard times in the 1970's, obtaining a reputation as a "drug den". After a mortage default by the owner, it briefly became the property of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, who had insured the mortage. It was subsequently converted to co-op ownership in a most unusual manner - without the involvement of a commercial developer - on the initiative of tenants who organized to avoid a sale to commercial interests or the City of Detroit.

No comments: