courtesy of City of Detroit
After nearly 30 years of vacancy, Detroit’s iconic Lee Plaza is poised for a dramatic return to life. Construction officially began this week on the long-planned restoration of the 15-story Art Deco tower on West Grand Boulevard, marking a major milestone in one of the city’s most ambitious historic redevelopment efforts to date. Once a symbol of opulence and later of decay, Lee Plaza will soon offer 117 units of affordable senior housing and signal a broader wave of neighborhood revitalization.
At a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, over 100 community members, civic leaders, and project partners gathered at the base of the once-grand structure to celebrate the start of construction. The redevelopment is being led by The Roxbury Group, Ethos Development Partners, and Lighthouse, in partnership with the City of Detroit and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).
David Di Rita, Principal of The Roxbury Group, highlighted that this is the culmination of a seven-year effort in collaboration with the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan.
“We at Roxbury, Ethos, and Lighthouse feel honored to be the stewards of this incredible restoration effort. Today, we proudly begin the redevelopment of Detroit’s last vacant high-rise,” Di Rita said.
Originally opened in 1929 as a luxury residential hotel by developer Ralph T. Lee, the building has long captivated Detroiters with its ornate design and tragic decline. Now, the $60 million restoration project will breathe new life into the building, with units dedicated to seniors earning at or below 50% of the area median income. Rents will be capped at 30% of a resident’s income, and affordability will be guaranteed for at least 45 years.
A planned second phase of the redevelopment is expected to add up to 65 additional units in the building’s upper floors, pending financing.
Rendering of Lee Plaza when it is completed in late 2026, courtesy of city of Detroit
“Lee Plaza is one of the most beloved buildings in our city, not only because of its architectural beauty, but because it’s in a neighborhood,” Mayor Mike Duggan said.
“Thanks to Roxbury and their partners, Lee Plaza is being transformed from blight to its original beauty.”
Designed in the height of the Art Deco era, the building’s intricate façade and grand interior spaces will be meticulously restored. That includes recreating the original terra cotta lion heads that once adorned the exterior and architectural features that were famously stolen and became national news. Detroit-based Sachse Construction manages construction, with architectural oversight by Fusco, Shaffer & Pappas and preservation consulting from Kidorf Associates.
The project’s financing is a complex public-private collaboration. Support includes Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from MSHDA, City of Detroit ARPA funds, grants from the Michigan Legislature and MSHDA, and rental subsidies from HUD. Additional financing and tax credit investments have been secured from KeyBank, Invest Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, JPMorgan Chase, and the Royal Bank of Canada.
MSHDA Executive Director Amy Hovey emphasized that Lee Plaza symbolizes Detroit’s resilience and potential.
“After sitting vacant for nearly three decades, this historic landmark will soon offer 117 affordable homes for seniors,” Hovey said.
“We’re proud to invest in a project that not only breathes new life into this building but also creates lasting impact through safe, stable housing,” Hovey said.
Once complete, the project is expected to generate over 200 construction and permanent jobs. It is also expected to have a major impact on the surrounding Northwest Goldberg neighborhood, just west of the New Center area, and improve safety conditions near the neighboring Northwestern High School.
Lucas Visser, Vice President of Historic Tax Credit investments at JPMorgan Chase, echoed the broader significance of the project.
“Our collaboration with The Roxbury Group, Ethos Development Partners, and Lighthouse is not just about transforming an iconic building into affordable housing,” Visser said.
“It’s about revitalizing the community, preserving Detroit’s rich architectural heritage, and creating a supportive environment for low-income seniors. Together, we’re fostering a vibrant future for the neighborhood and nurturing a sense of pride and belonging among its residents.”
Phase one is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with the development team actively seeking funding to move forward with the second phase.
For more about the history of Lee Plaza, visit HistoricDetroit.org.
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