Midtown Detroit’s Billinghurst Apartment Hotel Set for $9.5 Million Redevelopment
A historic Midtown Detroit apartment building with a tragic past is poised for a new chapter. The Billinghurst Apartment Hotel, located at 69 Willis Street, will undergo a $9.5 million redevelopment project, transforming the 104-year-vintage structure into 31 apartments with some units designated as below-market rate housing. Construction is anticipated to begin as early as this spring.
A History Marked by Tragedy and Resilience
The five-story, late Gothic-style building opened in 1922 as a “gentleman’s hotel,” offering furnished rooms with communal bathrooms. Over time, the Billinghurst transitioned to house welfare recipients. In February 1989, a devastating fire claimed the lives of four people and injured 57 others, forcing residents to escape by jumping from windows as firefighters cushioned their falls with mattresses according to the Detroit Free Press.
The building briefly operated as a homeless shelter in the 1990s before falling into vacancy.
Redevelopment Plans and Community Impact
Detroit developer and restaurateur Scott Lowell, known for his perform on the Forest Arms apartments and formerly owning Traffic Jam & Snug restaurant, unveiled the redevelopment plans on Wednesday, February 25th. The project includes a small addition to the building to accommodate an elevator. Twenty percent of the apartments will be reserved for below-market rents, and a ground-floor retail space is as well planned as reported by the Detroit Free Press.
A Building with a Storied Past
Originally built for A.C. Billinghurst, a former hotel manager, the Billinghurst Hotel was considered a modern accommodation when it opened in 1922, offering fully furnished apartments with hotel amenities for weekly or monthly rental according to EHERG. Rooms initially rented for $8, $10, and $12 per week – equivalent to $146, $183, and $219 respectively in 2023 dollars.
The building’s architect, Lundblad & Lundblad, also designed the Hotel Normandie, a nearly identical structure further up Woodward Avenue.
Recent History and Challenges
Around 2012, the Lowell family purchased the Billinghurst Hotel. By 2018, the structure had been stabilized and secured, with work continuing into 2020. But, progress stalled during the pandemic as noted by EHERG.
During a presentation to the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Lowell shared a story about how the producers of “Transformers 4” once considered demolishing the building for a scene, but he and former Midtown Detroit Inc. CEO Sue Mosey successfully intervened, persuading them to use computer graphics instead as reported by the Detroit Free Press.
Next Steps
A public hearing regarding a potential $1.5 million tax capture incentive for the project is tentatively scheduled for March 9th according to the Detroit Free Press. The redevelopment of the Billinghurst Apartment Hotel represents a significant investment in Midtown Detroit and a hopeful step towards revitalizing a building with a complex and poignant history.