A 100-year-old apartment building in Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood, previously known as 40 Davenport, has reopened as Broder & Sachse’s The Hamilton Midtown Detroit, a 97-unit community renovated to fit the needs of modern renters and restored to its original, historic appearance as the Hotel Stevenson.
The design and development team, including architect Hamilton Anderson, made use of historic photographs as reference points for the hotel’s historic features. The windows were restored as closely as possible to their original casement configurations, with insulated, low-E glass under wooden transoms.
The exterior brick was cleaned and tuckpointed, and damaged terra-cotta work was repaired or replaced with fiber-reinforced polymer casing. The restored front entry features a door and sidelights that match the historic façade and a new metal canopy that exposes the entry’s glazed terra-cotta details.
The interior’s top-to-bottom rehabilitation process included the restoration of all finished surfaces with era-accurate materials, colors, and finishes. Historic details were preserved or reproduced, including molding, trim, original stonework, and a historically significant grand staircase. 40 Davenport’s carpet and linoleum floors have been removed, revealing the hotel’s original terrazzo underneath. The mechanical, electric, HVAC, and plumbing systems all have been replaced with modern, energy-efficient fixtures.
To create space for modern floor plans and amenities, the team split a number of studio apartments into micro-units, and removed several walls and a dropped ceiling on the first floor to open up space for modern amenities, including a fitness center, a renovated laundry room, and a pet grooming station. A vast, unused ballroom has been converted into a modern community lounge with architectural details that match the building’s character.
The residential units now feature open floor plans, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and walk-in showers with glass doors. A tailored inclusionary housing program has allowed qualified 40 Davenport residents to return to their units at their previous rental rate and covered relocation costs for program participants during the renovation.