How about a glimpse into Detroit’s past? Right here we have the Lee Plaza. It stands as a striking reminder of both opulence and decay. Once a symbol of wealth the Lee Plaza now whispers stories of a bygone era.
The Lee Plaza also known as the Lee Plaza Hotel or Lee Plaza Apartments is a 16-story high-rise. You can find it at 2240 West Grand Boulevard. The Lee Plaza is a registered historic site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Designed by Charles Noble the Lee Plaza showcases Art Deco architecture from the 1920s. The Lee Plaza Hotel was built in 1928 for Ralph T. Lee a Detroit developer. Lee envisioned an upscale apartment building with hotel services. The Lee Plaza rivaled the Book-Cadillac and Statler Hotels in architectural grandeur.
Stepping inside imagine the main lobby with its coffered ceiling. Picture the east and west lounges and two wood-paneled dining rooms. Envision the ballroom once filled with music and laughter. The main hallway was called Peacock Alley. It featured a barrel-vaulted ceiling in blues golds and greens. In the basement there was a beauty parlor game room and even a meat market.
Ralph T. Lee sought to bring a piece of Manhattan to Detroit with the Lee Plaza. The building’s design includes Mediterranean flourishes. It originally boasted a French chateau-esque roof with red Spanish tile. Large urns and carved lion heads adorned the exterior.
The Lee Plaza offered luxurious apartments with hotel-like amenities. Residents enjoyed room service and concierges. Each apartment had a Servidor for dry cleaning and package delivery. A rooftop radio receiver connected residents to leading stations. A parking garage offered 24-hour valet service.
Sculptor Corrado Parducci filled the Lee with extravagance. The lobby featured marble expensive woods and elaborate plasterwork. Peacock Alley had a hand-painted barrel ceiling and mirrored walls. The American walnut-paneled dining room could accommodate 125 people. The ballroom featured a vaulted ceiling crystal chandeliers and tall mirrors.
At sunset a beacon on the Lee’s roof illuminated the city guiding pilots. However the Great Depression brought financial troubles. Ralph Lee sold the hotel shortly after it opened. By 1935 both Lee and the Lee Plaza were bankrupt.
The Lee Plaza’s ownership was tied up in court until 1943. Luxury apartment living declined. The hotel began renting rooms to transient guests. In 1968 Detroit turned the building into a senior citizens complex.
The Lee Plaza began losing residents in the 1980s. It finally closed in 1997. Since then the Lee Plaza has been stripped of many architectural elements. The city sought redevelopment.
In 2019 Detroit announced plans to sell the Lee Plaza for redevelopment into residential units and retail. Restoration began with a focus on affordable senior apartments. New windows have been installed and entrances sealed.
The Lee Plaza stands as a testament to Detroit’s architectural history. Despite its challenges it represents hope for the future. The Lee Plaza is set to be restored and revitalized. It will once again be a beacon of the community.