Mayor Summers, LakewoodAlive Celebrate Investment In Vacant Property
In 2012, the city of Lakewood bought two boarding houses that had become troubled properties in the community.
One of those homes, at 1446 Mars Avenue, was unveiled to the community at a special Open House on Wednesday night.
The city partnered with LakewoodAlive and the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization to completely transform the property. A similar project is underway at 1436 Grace Avenue — also a former boarding house.
“Government action, private sector ingenuity, and marketplace trends have aligned for this great outcome,” said Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers. “This is a remarkable transformation from a major threat to this historic neighborhood, to what is now its crown jewel.”
The developers, Darren Mancuso of Relief Properties, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to breathe new life into the former 13-bedroom vacant home.
The 2,600-square-foot structure is now a single-family home. Relief Properties created an open floor plan, while preserving many historic elements including a coat tree, a set of pocket doors, original columns, a stained glass window, among other efforts.
Dozens of members of the community stopped by the home for a tour during the Open House, marveling at the restoration. Local officials and business leaders were also on hand to officially cut the ribbon.
“I could not be more thrilled to see 1446 Mars undergo such a dramatic transformation,” said LakewoodAlive Executive Director Ian Andrews. “None of this would have been possible without the incredible partnership of the city of Lakewood, Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization and Relief Properties. Additionally, this house serves as an example of how a turn-of-the-century home can support modern design while maintaining its historic integrity.”