Detroit Free Press Building

The Detroit Free Press Building is an office building designed by Albert Kahn Associates in downtown Detroit, Michigan. Construction began in 1924 and was completed in 1925.

The high-rise building contains on 14 above-ground and two basement levels. The building features Art Deco detailing, and is a steel-frame structure faced with limestone. Its design features stepped massing in the central tower and flanking wings. When constructed, the building housed editorial and business offices for the paper as well as printing facilities and rental space. The building is adorned with bas-relief figures, sculpted by Ulysses A. Ricci, symbolizing commerce and communication.

The building, located at 321 West Lafayette, was unoccupied from 1998, when the newspaper offices moved, to 2020, when it was redeveloped as an apartment building. It was formerly the home of the ''Detroit Free Press'', and while occupied by the newspaper, displayed large neon signs of the newspaper logo on its roof facing north and south. Printing facilities for the newspaper occupied the lower floors of the building until 1979, when a new production facility opened approximately one-mile southwest at 1801 West Jefferson Avenue.

In 1989, the newspaper moved its offices to the building Albert Kahn designed for ''The Detroit News'' at 615 West Lafayette. Because the News Building is only three stories, it is constructed of reinforced concrete and faced with concrete fashioned to look like stone. When the ''Free Press'' offices moved into the building, they occupied the southern portion and used the address of 600 West Fort Street while ''The News'' used its long-time address of 615 West Lafayette. In February 2014, both newspapers announced their intent to move to another facility which would be more suited to their current needs.

Redevelopment Plans

Several redevelopment plans were proposed during the time the building was vacant. None of these were successful.
*In spring 2003, the Detroit Free Press Building was added to a short list of possible sites to replace the Detroit Police Headquarters. Another candidate was the Michigan Central Station, both of which are part of the city's efforts at urban development in Detroit.
*In February 2009, owners announced that the building would be turned into a sound stage for Motor City Film Works production but set no date for completion of the project.
*In June 2010, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved incentive financing for a deal to remake the Free Press Building into residential apartments with office and retail space.
*In November 2012, the structure was placed for auction because the owners, Luke Investments, could not agree on a redevelopment plan.
*The building sold again in September 2013 for approximately $4.15 million. The new owners expect to begin renovations in late 2014 to recreate retail space on the street level and 150 apartments on the upper floors.

Redevelopment

In September 2016, billionaire developer Dan Gilbert bought the property, through Pyramid Development Co, LLC, for a reported $8.425 million. Throughout the next four years, the building was redeveloped into a mixed-use project with 8,000 square feet of retail space, 55,000 square feet of office space, and 105 new apartments. The building, renamed "The Press/321", began leasing in September 2020.

Gallery

File:DFPBuilding1.jpg, Main entrance
File:DFPBuilding2.jpg, Entrance sculpture detail
File:DFPBuilding3.jpg, Sculptural detail

References

Further reading

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External links

Inside the abandoned Detroit Free Press Building at Detroiturbex.com

{{National Register of Historic Places in Michigan

Skyscraper office buildings in Detroit
Unused buildings in Detroit
National Register of Historic Places in Wayne County, Michigan
Historic district contributing properties in Michigan
Art Deco architecture in Michigan
Detroit Free Press
Newspaper headquarters in the United States
1925 establishments in Michigan
Office buildings completed in 1925
Albert Kahn (architect) buildings