River Terrace Apartments

River Terrace Apartments is a complex of four separate buildings surrounding a large garden that slopes toward the Detroit River at Jefferson Avenue. The site contains 178 residential units ranging from small studios to five-room apartments, with many offering views of the water.

The complex was built in 1939 and became the first new apartment development on the Detroit River since the late 1920s. Federal housing programs supported the project during a time when new residential neighborhoods were needed for middle-income families.

The buildings display Georgian Revival features with limestone bands between floors that reflect Federal Housing Administration standards of its time. The design shows how people wanted to create attractive, well-built homes for everyday residents.

The complex sits directly on the river and provides easy access to the waterfront through the green spaces between buildings. The four different building shapes create several open areas for walking and viewing the river.

Each of the four buildings has a different footprint, creating a wavy pattern that maximizes river access. This offset arrangement was unusual for apartment complexes of that era, which typically preferred symmetrical or rectangular layouts.

Location: Detroit

GPS coordinates: 42.34958,-82.99694

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:25