Compared to the nation’s other very large cities that grew rapidly in the early Twentieth Century—New York, Chicago and Philadelphia—few large apartment buildings were built in Detroit. The availability of low cost land in Detroit permitted the city to sprawl outward, a process that was also encouraged by the absence of heavy rail public transportation with the city. The city’s waterfront was then and continues to be extremely attractive so, as Detroit grew, a dozen or so large apartment buildings were constructed near the river along or close to East Jefferson.
Alden Park Towers—known as Berman Apartments when erected—consists of four eight-story buildings that originally contained 352 apartments. These structures are excellent examples of the Tudor Revival style using much stone trim and red brick facades. Personally, I think that the crenellated limestone at the roof line is one of the most appealing features and distinguishes these buildings from all other apartment houses in Detroit. The exterior is highly ornamented as you can see by looking at the buildings or the picture above. The projecting bay windows are another distinguishing feature found in each building. They extend from the ground to the roof line where they are capped with an octagonal roof.
These buildings were designed by Edwin Rorke. He also designed the first co-operative apartments built in Philadelphia at the corner of School House Lane and Wissahickon Avenue. These are known Alden Park Manor and are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I do not know why the two apartment complexes have the same name or why the buildings in Detroit originally had a different name. In 2005, a new owner purchased Alden Park Towers and invested five million in updating the building. It now includes 389 apartments.
Edsel and Eleanor Ford lived in a massive and attractive home with property adjoining the Alden Park Towers. Needless to say, they were upset at having this huge apartment complex in their back yard with its hundreds of residents. Rather than remaining at their riverfront location in Detroit, they asked Albert Kahn to design the magnificent Ford estate located at 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, a home that is as famous for the landscape achievements of Jens Jensen as it is for the Kahn structure. The Edsel and Eleanor Ford home on East Jefferson was razed.
Architect: Edwin Rorke
Date of construction: 1923
Architectural style: Tudor Revival
Use in 2004: Apartment complex
Website for Alden Park Towers: www.aldenparkapartments.com
City of Detroit Local Historic District: Not listed
State of Michigan Registry of Historic Sites: Listed # P25017
National Register of Historic Sites: Listed November 9, 1985
Photograph: Andrew Chandler; July, 2004
Description Revised: March 10, 2009
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