The property was built between 1922 and 1927 on about 8 acres along the Detroit River, Blanton says. It has three towers, two eight-story towers and one 14-story tower, all connected, he adds. There are 379 living units in the building, some with kitchens, and some offices and a parking structure.
"It was the city home of Horace Dodge, the automobile pioneer. The Beatles also stayed at the Whittier, as well as Mae West. The list of residents of the hotel reads like a Who's Who of Detroit," Blanton notes.
The Whittier was also home to the well-known Gold Cup Room, an upscale nightclub and eatery, between 1940 and 1960.
Blanton says the property was operated as an assisted living facility, being purchased by United Vanguard Homes Inc. of Glen Cove, NY in 1985. It closed in April 2001, he says.
The property is within minutes from the new Comerica Park and Ford Field baseball and football stadiums.
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