Virginia Park Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Virginia Park Historic District
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Virginia Park Streetscape between Woodward Ave. and Second
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| Location | Both sides of Virginia Park from Woodward Ave. to John Lodge Service Dr., Detroit, Michigan |
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| Area | 22 acres (8.9 ha) |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | Richard Marr; Joseph Mills; George V. Pottle; Smith, Hinchman and Grylls; Chittenden and Kotting; Malcomson and Higginbotham |
| Architectural style | Mixed (more than two styles from different periods) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000557 |
| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1982 |
The Virginia Park Historic District is a special neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. It's found on Virginia Park Street, stretching from Woodward Avenue to the John C. Lodge Freeway. This area is part of the New Center section of Detroit.
In 1982, the Virginia Park Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical place. The district shows what a wealthy neighborhood looked like in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many famous Detroit architects designed the homes here. They used many different building styles, making the area very interesting to look at.
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How Virginia Park Began
The Virginia Park area was planned in 1893 by John W. Leggett, Frank E. Snow, and Joseph C. Hough. They divided the land into 92 building lots. Each lot was even given a unique name, like Tanglewood or Sorrento!
The people who developed the area wanted it to be a beautiful place to live. So, they set rules to make sure the community stayed attractive. This quiet street quickly became popular with business people and other professionals. The first houses were built in 1895. By 1908, more than 24 homes stood in the district.
Changes Over Time
Around 1910, people living in Virginia Park started to worry. More businesses were opening on Woodward Avenue nearby. Homeowners formed a group called the Virginia Avenue Improvement Association. They wanted to make sure their property values stayed high.
This group worked to improve the neighborhood. They even created a nice entrance to the community. The area continued to do well during the 1920s. However, like many places, it faced challenges during the Great Depression in the 1930s and 1940s.
By the 1950s and 1960s, some homes were rented out by owners who didn't live there. Others were divided into smaller apartments. The Algiers Motel, once located at Virginia Park and Woodward, was involved in a difficult event during the 1967 Detroit riot.
In 1979, General Motors announced plans to improve the area near its main office. This helped bring new life to the Virginia Park district. The Algiers Motel was torn down in 1979. A new park space was created where the motel used to be. Today, the Virginia Park Historic District is seen as the northern edge of Detroit's New Center area.
What Virginia Park Looks Like
The lots in Virginia Park were planned to be 50 feet wide and 163 feet deep. The original rules for the neighborhood helped keep the streets looking uniform. All the buildings are made of brick or stone. They also sit back from the street by the same distance. All the homes are for single families, with only one house on each 50-foot lot.
When the district was named a historic place, it had 57 buildings. Most of these buildings helped show the historic look of the neighborhood. Only three buildings were not considered part of the original historic style. These included an apartment building, an office building, and a hospital that was later torn down in 2014.
Most of the historic buildings were homes. A few were used as offices or a rest home. The houses were built between 1895 and 1915. The older homes are generally closer to Woodward Avenue, and the newer ones are further west.
Schools in the Area
Children living in the Virginia Park area attend schools run by Detroit Public Schools.
Students go to Thirkell Elementary School. After that, they attend Hutchins Middle School. For high school, students go to Northwestern High School.
Images for kids
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A beautiful house in Virginia Park.
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Another charming house in Virginia Park.
See also
In Spanish: Distrito Histórico de Virginia Park para niños
