Park Avenue Historic District (Detroit, Michigan)

Infobox_nrhp | name =Park Avenue Historic District
nrhp_type = hd

---

caption = Park Avenue Historic District, looking south from across I-75.
location= Detroit, Michigan
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 20
lat_seconds = 12
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 83
long_minutes = 3
long_seconds = 49
long_direction = W
locmapin = Michigan
area =
architect= multiple
architecture= Early Commercial, Late Victorian, Other
added = May 13, 1997
governing_body = Local
refnum=97000396cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The Park Avenue Historic District is an historic district located in Detroit, Michigan, along Park Avenue between Adams St. and I-75. The district includes the Women's City Club, the Royal Palms Hotel, and the Kales Building.

History

In the 1920s, Detroit's prestigious Grand Circus Park was crowded with buildings. [http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/historic/districts/park_ave.pdf Park Avenue Historic District] from the city of Detroit.] The automotive boom in the city increased the pressure for office space, and development began to spill north from Grand Circus Park up Park Avenue. In 1922, Albert Kahn designed the Park Avenue Building, sited at the corner of Adams and Park Avenue. The Kales Building, a previous Kahn design, stood on the other side of Park Avenue, giving the street two prestigious buildings at its southern gateway. Other architects and artisans contributed hotels, apartment buildings, and office buildings to the structures on Park Avenue.

In 1923, the Park Avenue Association was formed. [http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/sites/12438.htm Park Avenue Historic District] from the state of Michigan.] They planned the street to concentrate high-grade commercial and office space at the south end, and prestigious residential development at the north end. As the district developed, Detroiters consciously perceived it as their city's version of New York City's Fifth Avenue.

Also on Park Avenue was Women's City Club and the Detroit chapter of the Colony Club, both critical in providing women with social and work activities and supporting women's sufferage.

The area was used decreasingly during the Great Depression, but saw a resurgence after World War II, with a mix of social groups and multiple restaurant and entertainment venues. At the same time, an industrial character was added to the district when the Iodent Chemical Company began manufacturing toothpaste in a building along Park Avenue. The area again saw a decline in the late 1960s and 1970s; however, the proximity of the Fox Theater and other nearby venues (including Comerica Park) has led to increased redevelopment in the 2000s. The Kales Building and the Iodent Building have been redeveloped into lofts, the Colony Club has been refurbished, and two new entertainment venues, Cliff Bell's and the Park Bar, have opened. [http://www.modeldmedia.com/developmentnews/detlife12708.aspx Kelli B. Kavanaugh,] "Detroit Life Building to join ranks of Park Ave.'s resurgence," ModelD, January 22, 2008.]

The district was listed on the state register of historic places in 1996, and on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

External links

* [http://theparkavenuehouse.com/ The Park Avenue House]
* [http://www.thetownpumptavern.com/ The Town Pump Tavern]
* [http://www.kales76.com/ Kales Building]
* [http://www.colonyclubdetroit.com/ Colony Club]
* [http://www.iodentlofts.com/ Iodent Lofts]
* [http://www.cliffbells.com/ Cliff Bell's]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=135712872 Park Bar]

References