Saint Rita Apartments, Historic apartment building in North End, Detroit, United States
The Saint Rita Apartments is a six-story structure in Detroit built with red brick and adorned with extensive terra cotta ornamentation along the roofline and exterior walls. The building now houses 26 units and operates as permanent supportive housing.
Built in 1916 for Robert S. Brown to designs by Harry Stevensen, the Saint Rita held 24 luxury apartments. By 1990 it served as subsidized housing; it closed in 2005 and a fire damaged the interior. The city placed it on the demolition list in 2008, and it was sold at auction in 2011. Central City Integrated Health Inc. broke ground in 2017 on a $7 million renovation into 26 permanent supportive housing units, and the building reopened on February 27, 2019.
The lobby features intricate plaster details with artistic touches, including a portrait of two dancers and decorative lettering above the entrance. These embellishments reflect the building's past as an exclusive residence for affluent residents.
The building stands in Detroit's North End neighborhood on Owen Street and is easily recognizable from the street. Visitors can observe the architectural details and ornamentation from the exterior, though access to the interior is limited as it operates as private housing.
The structure faced demolition but was rescued through a major renovation effort. Afterward it became housing specifically for veterans needing ongoing support services.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,627 contributors worldwide.