City of CITY COUNCIL HISTORIC DESIGNATION ADVISORY BOARD 218 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit, 48226 Phone: (313) 224-3487 Fax: (313) 224-4336 e-mail: [email protected]

November 7, 2016

HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL

RE: Petition # 1069, Dr. Kim of Lawrence Tech University and the West Grand Boulevard Collaborative, requesting designation of 2764 West Grand Boulevard, the historic church known as Redeemer Presbyterian Church/Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church and Day Care Center as an historic district and the appointment of ad hoc representatives in connection with this matter. (RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF HISTORIC DESIGNATION STUDY)

Petition #1069 is the request of Dr. Kim of Lawrence Tech University and the West Grand Boulevard Collaborative to conduct a study for historic designation of the former Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church and Daycare Center, originally the home of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. (SEE ATTACHMENT A) Reasonable grounds for the study have been provided in that the property has been officially determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

BACKGROUND In April 2016, a petition was filed requesting the study for a proposed historic designation of the buildings at 2764 West Grand Boulevard, more recently known as Sweet Home Baptist Church and also Day Care Center, but historically known as Redeemer Presbyterian Church as was named by its original congregation in the 1920’s until later adopted by new parishioners. The two buildings on the property have historically functioned as one entity. Both structures have been deemed eligible for both the National Register of Historic Places and local historic designation.

Since the time that the designation request was submitted, there have been various matters which have warranted additional engagement causing the designation study request to be extended in order for further conversations to take place in regards to a possible consensus for the future of the buildings. The current owner of the buildings is Henry Ford Health Systems (HFHS). However, the Local Historic Districts Act allows for any community member to petition for this Honorable body to:

“ provide for the establishment of historic districts” and that “the purpose of the ordinance shall be to do 1 or more of the following: a) Safeguard the heritage of the local unit by preserving 1 or more historic

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districts in the local unit that reflect elements of the unit’s history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. b) Stabilize and improve property values in each district and the surrounding areas. c) Foster civic beauty d) Strengthen the local economy e) Promote the use of historic districts for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the citizens of the local unit and of the state.”1

Since this matter first came before the Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee (P&ED Committee) in June 2016, Henry Ford Health Systems (HFHS) representatives requested that the start of a historic designation process be delayed in order to explore the viability to include the churches in their development plans for the area. Due to that request, staff sought for the designation study to be delayed several times, postponing the request for City Council to begin the designation process.

One of the primary reasons that the Historic Designation Advisory Board (HDAB) staff requested additional time before recommending the start of a designation process was to provide opportunity for the City’s Planning and Development Department architectural team to engage HFHS’ contracted architectural team in a design charrette process to find designs that would possibly incorporate the churches on the subject property into HFHS’ current site plan while also allowing for HFHS’ proposed cancer center. During this process, various site plans and conceptual designs were proposed by P&DD (SEE ATTACHMENT B) HFHS and their architectural team, rebutted the designs making the argument that the alternatives would not fit their vision for various reasons.

COMMUNITY INPUT AND MEETINGS Since the community represented by the WGBC had not been fully aware and/or engaged in the process for the proposal to demolish the historic assets to allow for the cancer center, they too requested to meet with HFHS in an attempt to find a compromise.

While the designation request was in postponement, two meetings were held in the community. One of those meetings was held by the West Grand Boulevard Collaborative (WGBC) on August 3rd, in which there were approximately 25-30 community members in attendance, representing residents, business owners and organizational members of the surrounding community. HDAB staff presented on the process and basis for a historic designation. At the end of the meeting, the attendees were polled to see how many were in favor of the proposed designation of the two church buildings at 2764 W. Grand Boulevard. From staff’s count, all but one individual in attendance was in favor of the designation.

Subsequently, a second meeting was held in the community by Henry Ford Health Systems on Aug 31st in which representatives of the organization presented their plan for a proposed “world class” cancer treatment facility and other future plans for the neighborhood. A video of the interior of the church at 2764 W. Grand Boulevard was

1 According to Sec. 399.202 of the Local Historic Districts Act, Act 169 of 1970.

2 shown (SEE ATTACHMENT C). Community members spoke to the project. Comments were made in support of the cancer center. Other comments were in favor of preserving the historic churches at the subject property. There were other community members who wanted to both preserve the historic churches and have a “world class” cancer facility.

In a continuation of the community meetings, on Tuesday September 20th, HDAB staff along with representatives from the Planning and Development Department (P&DD), Henry Ford Health Systems (HFHS), and the West Grand Blvd. Collaborative (WGBC), and other City representatives met at to discuss the church buildings and attempt to come to a consensus regarding a plan for development in the area, specifically as it relates to the subject structures. As a result of that meeting the community requested that they be allotted additional time to discuss and review some of the information that was presented in the meeting.

In September, the WGBC solicited the services of a member of the architecture and design firm known as Lord Aeck Sargent (LAS) which specializes in historic preservation, landscape architecture and planning among other things. An additional meeting was held that City staff attended in which the architect from LAS presented an alternative site plans from what was originally proposed by HFHS’ team (SEE ATTACHMENT D & E). These alternative site plans were akin to those that P&DD presented as alternatives which would allow for the church buildings to be preserved and incorporated into HFHS’ overall master plan. Since then, multiple meetings have taken place between the WGBC, HFHS and other community members with the goal of reaching consensus for the future of the church properties.

At this point it seems that the WGBC and HFHS have not come to an agreement for the church buildings. HFHS maintains that despite, alternatives presented by P&DD and the LAS architect, there is no way to preserve the buildings within the context of their larger master plan for the properties that they own in the community.

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE The Sweet Water Baptist Church buildings originally known as the Redeemer Presbyterian Church have been determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places because they both hold significant architectural and historical value. Both structures are approximately a century old and have been operating as a church and daycare up until fairly recently, when purchased by HFHS.

The original congregation of this church initiated in 1888 and was known as the Church of the Redeemer, located at 5th and Holden Avenue which eventually gave way to the John C. Lodge Freewy in the 1950’s.2

In 1913 the brown/red brick building, which served as both chapel and parsonage, was erected by architects Stahl & Kinsey (S&K) making it older than the historic Henry Ford

2 Landmarks of Wayne County and Detroit, by Robert Budd Ross, George Byron Catlin, p.532

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Hospital which was built two years after, in 1915. S&K are known for designing many churches in the city.

The attached stone building was built subsequently in 1924 and is the work of well- known architect, George DeWitt Mason of George D. Mason & Company architectural firm (SEE ATTACHMENT F).3 Other works of Mason include but not limited to: the Ransom Gillis House (), Belle Isle Aquarium, the , , an original Eastern Market structure and many more.

The structures also have historical significance as it relates to an African American civil rights event that took place in the buildings. In 1969 a group known as the National Black Economic Development Conference (NBEDC), an African American civil rights group that was active nationwide staged a protest in the subject properties.4 The group also produced a manifesto as they peacefully occupied the church buildings.5 The event gained media attention, highlighting the racial injustices of that era. Groups such as the People Against Racism (PAR) eventually joined in the cause assisting in the fight for racial equality and social equity (ATTACHMENT G).6

A full study at the direction of this Honorable Body would reveal more details on the historic events and significance of the subject buildings.

BROADER COMMUNITY SCOPE Following the meeting, staff has been informed that that at least six (6) other property owners along the same corridor, between the John C. Lodge and Rosa Parks Street on West Grand Boulevard will be petitioning for a historic designation of their properties as well. Your body should receive this request this week. Those properties include:

 2617 W. Grand Blvd.- Dr. Brintley, M.D. General Surgery  2621 W. Grand Blvd.- Lewis & Thompson Insurance  2637 W. Grand Blvd.- Historically significant property  2657 W. Grand Blvd.- Gamma Phi Delta Sorority National Headquarters  2671 W. Grand Blvd.- Dr. Darnell Kaigler, DDS, MSD – formerly the offices of Dr. Robert E.L. Perkins, DDS, MSD  2686 W. Grand Blvd.- Brazelton’s Florist

Since we’ve received these new interested parties for designation, it further adds to the rationality for approaching the designation process in a larger district designation effort that many in the community seem favorable to. As stated before, the historic designation of James. H. Cole Home for Funerals in 2012-13 was undertaken with the aspiration of a possible larger district for the other historic properties located on this thoroughfare. There

3 Church of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Burton Historical Library, photo Nov. 4, 1923. 4 “Forman’s Seizure of HQ in Detroit roils Churchmen,” Detroit News, June 1969.

4 are many community assets that have historic significance along Grand Blvd. which can ensure the continuity and fabric of this thoroughfare. This corridor has much history, ranging from architectural importance, medical importance, legendary music by Motown Records and other artists, African American businesses, and much more (SEE ATTACHED H).

ANALYSIS

Historic Preservation and Urban Planning Principles In an area that has many structures of historic value, preserving these two specific religious buildings that relate to the history of the community is vital.

To historical significance that this church complex possesses, makes it invaluable to the W. Grand Blvd. community because it captures decades of stories and history of the neighborhood adding to the educational opportunities for community members. It also fosters identity for the community by maintaining the heritage of the past and giving it individual character. Neighborhoods have distinctive traits and characteristics that are derived in many ways by the built environment, along with the people that created narratives for that environment. Eliminating those resources, essentially takes away from what makes that neighborhood what it is today and denying memory of that history.

Many studies have been conducted across America over the years, that demonstrate the economic benefits of preservation on property values. As communities capitalize on historic resources, it has been reported that properties in historic districts appreciate much faster than comparable properties not within districts. This appreciation comes as a result of the stability that historic districts are more certain to retain historic character and integrity due to stipulations that are applied at the time of designation. This leads to investment, jobs and synergy from resources that exist.

From an urban design perspective, it must be taken into consideration, the nature of West Grand Boulevard and the function that boulevards around the world exemplify. Boulevards are typically conducive to street life and serve to facilitate movement of traffic, pedestrian and bicyclists, and encourage activity.

In the late 1800’s Detroit originally planned Grand Boulevard to create a scenic route through the city from the western end of the to the eastern portion of the river. The subject portion of West Grand Blvd. where the historic churches currently exist, is the epitome of what planners intended for the boulevard to be.

Historically, boulevards stem from the 16th century and were created to be tree-lined multi-purpose walkways and connectors for the public. Typical boulevards are 100-140 ft. in width, provide 4-6 lanes at approximately 10.5 ft. width per lane, allow for wider sidewalks for pedestrians, include tree-planted medians, dense foliage on rights-of-ways, and have a continuous line of buildings that are oriented towards the street frontages and allow direct access. On some boulevards, the median serves as a refuge for pedestrian amenities such as street furniture and green space, but the actual streetscape where

5 buildings are located is in almost all instances continuous to keep continuity and walkability. Breaks in the streetscape due to a sporadic green space (such as the one that HFHS is proposing, which is a major reason for the need to eliminate the church buildings for site plan to work), are not typical of a major boulevard of cities and would seem to go against the principles of a boulevard that makes for a great pedestrian experience. It creates a dead space and isolates an area creating an “island effect” in the middle of system that promotes connectivity of the built environment and has done so historically. It takes away from the visual attractions that make a boulevard so interesting and draws pedestrian activity, and essentially leaves a gap in the streets fabric.

SUPPORT The National Trust for Historic Preservation has submitted a letter of support. Dr. Kim of Lawrence Tech University has submitted a letter supporting the preservation of the churches and also the West Grand Boulevard Collaborative, one of the original petitioner’s also submitted a letter supporting the designation of the subject buildings. (SEE ATTACHED SUPPORT LETTERS)

RECOMMENDATION Again, the subject buildings have been determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places because both hold significant architectural and historical value. Both structures are approximately a century old and have been operating as a church and daycare up until several years ago.

Given that there is still strong community support and the eligibility and significance of the buildings has been established, HDAB staff is in favor of a study of the proposed historic district.

A resolution directing the Historic Designation Advisory Board to conduct a study is also attached. (SEE ATTACHMENT)

Attachment cc: City Clerk Brenda Jones, City Council President George Cushingberry Jr., Pro-Tem Gabe Leland, Council Member Mary Sheffield, Council Member Scott Benson, Council Member David Whitaker, Esq.

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Marcell Todd. Jr. Maurice Cox, P&DD

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ATTACHMENT A

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ATTACHMENT B- P&DD ALTERNATE SITE PLANS

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Examples of Adaptive Reuse of Various Cities from P&DD Charrette Process

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ATTACHMENT C- Historic photo of 1924 building interior (top) and recent photo (bottom)

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ATTACHMENT D- Lord Aeck Sargent architect’s site plan #1 to include churches

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ATTACHMENT E- Lord Aeck Sargent architect’s site plan #2 to include churches

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ATTACHMENT F- 1924 Stone-faced Building Groundbreaking Ceremony (George D. Mason and other church members depicted), George D. Mason photo

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ATTACHMENT G- The NBEDC, Manifesto, and P.A.R. Journal Cover

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ATTACHMENT H

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