Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects
The four remaining towers as seen in 2010
General information
Type	Residential
Address	2700 St. Antoine Street
Town or city	Detroit, Michigan
Country	United States
Coordinates	42°20′58″N 83°03′00″W / 42.34944°N 83.05000°W / 42.34944; -83.05000
Groundbreaking	1935
Completed	1942-1952
Demolished	2014 (Completed)
Height	161 ft (49 m)
Technical details
Floor count	14
Design and construction
Architect	Harley, Ellington & Day; Detroit Housing Commission; Smith Hinchman & Grylls

The Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects were a very large group of apartment buildings in Detroit, Michigan. They were officially called the Frederick Douglass Homes. This housing project was the biggest one owned by the city of Detroit. It was located in the Brush Park area, close to the Chrysler Freeway.

The name comes from Brewster Street, which used to be in the area, and Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was a famous African American leader who fought against slavery and for equal rights.

Many famous people lived here when they were young. These include singers like Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard. Actress Lily Tomlin and comedian Loni Love also lived there. The cartoon show The PJs was even based on a housing project like this one.

A Look Back: History of the Homes

Hastings Street: A Lively Neighborhood

Before the housing projects were built, Hastings Street was a very important place. From the 1920s to the 1950s, it was the heart of Black culture in Detroit. The street was full of shops, salons, and places for entertainment.

When the high-rise buildings were added, many more people moved into the area. Hastings Street became known as a place where you could find anything you needed. The famous musician John Lee Hooker even mentioned Hastings Street in his song "Boogie Chillen'".

Building the Brewster-Douglass Homes

A Frederick Douglass tower in 2007

The Brewster Project and Frederick Douglass Apartments were built over many years, from 1935 to 1955. The architects were Harley, Ellington & Day.

Construction for the Brewster Project started in 1935. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped begin the work. The first part, with smaller apartment buildings, was finished in 1938. It had 701 homes. By 1941, the project grew to 941 homes.

The Frederick Douglass Apartments were built right next to the Brewster Project. Work began in 1942. This part included more apartment rows, two 6-story buildings, and six tall 14-story towers. These towers were finished between 1952 and 1955.

Together, the Brewster-Douglass Project was huge. It covered five city blocks long and three city blocks wide. At its busiest time, between 8,000 and 10,000 people lived there.

Changes Over Time

The Brewster-Douglass Project was first built for "working poor" families. This meant families who worked hard but didn't earn a lot of money. The Detroit Housing Commission had a rule that at least one parent in each family had to have a job to live there.

Over time, these rules became less strict. By the 1960s and 1970s, the projects faced more challenges. The buildings also started to fall apart. Some of the Frederick Douglass towers were changed to homes for older people.

In 1991, the smaller apartment buildings of the original Brewster Project were torn down. By 1994, new townhomes were built in their place. These new homes are called the "Brewster Homes" and are still there today.

The rest of the buildings kept getting worse. In 2003, two of the six tall 14-story Frederick Douglass towers were taken down. This was done to make it easier to manage and cost less money. By 2008, only about 280 families still lived in the Frederick Douglass Homes. The city decided to close them completely. The buildings south of Wilkins street were left empty after that.

The demolition of the remaining Frederick Douglass Homes buildings started on September 4, 2013. Most of the demolition was finished by the end of August 2014.

A special marker at the site of the Brewster Homes shares some history: "Between 1910 and 1940, many African American families moved to Detroit. In 1935, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped start the Brewster Homes. This was the nation’s first public housing built with federal money for African Americans. The homes opened in 1938 with 701 units. When finished in 1941, there were 941 units. Families living there had to be employed, and there were rules about how much money they could make. People who lived there remembered Brewster as a 'community filled with families that displayed love, respect and concern for everyone in a beautiful, clean and secure neighborhood.' The first Brewster Homes were torn down in 1991 and replaced by 250 townhouses."

What's Next for the Area?

On March 9, 2012, Detroit's Mayor Dave Bing announced future plans. The Detroit Housing Commission wanted money to tear down all the remaining buildings at the Frederick Douglass Homes site. They also planned to fix up the empty Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center. The empty land would then be used to build new affordable homes and businesses. The demolition was officially announced on November 15, 2012.

The Buildings Themselves

The six tall concrete towers were built in a Modern style of architecture. They were covered in brick. All of them looked almost the same and were 15 floors high.

Local Schools

Students living in the Brewster-Douglass area went to these Detroit Public Schools:

• Spain Elementary School (for grades K–8)
• Martin Luther King High School (for grades 9–12)

See also

In Spanish: Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects para niños