The Willis–Selden Historic District is a historic district located in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

, consisting of three streets: Willis, Alexandrine, and Selden, Running from

Woodward Avenue A woodward is a warden of a wood. Woodward may also refer to: Places ;United States * Woodward, Iowa * Woodward, Oklahoma * Woodward, Pennsylvania, a census-designated place * Woodward Avenue, a street in Tallahassee, Florida, which bisects th ...

on the east to Third Avenue on the west. The district was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1997.

History

The land forming the Willis–Selden Historic District was originally the Park Lots, the Cass Farm, and the Jones/Crane Farm.Willis–Selden Historic District
from the city of Detroit These parcels were subdivided in the late 1800s. Due in part to the growth of Detroit during the 1860s and generous lot sizes, the Willis–Selden District became a popular area for development, particularly for the relatively wealthy professional class. In the early twentieth century, the district became home to auto industry suppliers, once again due to its location and large lots. Forty-one percent of commercial buildings in the district built between 1910 and 1930 were auto-related. In addition, large, high-density apartments were constructed to meet the demands of the huge influx of auto workers into Detroit. However, the Great Depression had a marked impact on the industry and on the Willis–Selden Historic District, sending it into decline.

Buildings

Of the buildings located within the district, a number a historically significant in their own right. These include: * Detroit-Columbia Central Office Building (52 Selden) *

Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church The Cass Community United Methodist Church is located at 3901 Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Midtown Detroit, Michigan. It was built in 1883 as the Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 19 ...

(3901 Cass Avenue, at Selden) *

Coronado Apartments The Coronado Apartments are an apartment building located on 3751–73 Second Avenue (on the corner of Second and Selden) in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980 and listed on the National Regis ...

(3751-73 Second Avenue, at Selden) * Stuber-Stone Building (4221-4229 Cass Avenue, at Willis) * Detroit Edison Company Willis Avenue Station (50 W. Willis)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Willis-Selden Historic District Historic districts in Detroit Midtown Detroit Neighborhoods in Detroit Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan National Register of Historic Places in Detroit