Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects
| Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects | |
|---|---|
The four remaining towers as seen in 2010
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| General information | |
| Type | Residential |
| Address | 2700 St. Antoine Street |
| Town or city | Detroit, Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 42°20′58″N 83°03′00″W / 42.34944°N 83.05000°WCoordinates: 42°20′58″N 83°03′00″W / 42.34944°N 83.05000°W |
| Groundbreaking | 1935 |
| Completed | 1942-1952 |
| Height | 161 ft (49 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 14 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Harley, Ellington & Day; Detroit Housing Commission; Smith Hinchman & Grylls |
| References | |
The Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects (officially named the Frederick Douglass Homes, and alternately named Frederick Douglass Projects, Frederick Douglass Apartments, Brewster-Douglass Homes, and Brewster-Douglass Projects) were the largest residential housing project owned by the city of Detroit, located in the Brush Park section on the east side of Detroit, Michigan, near the Chrysler Freeway, Mack Avenue and St. Antoine Street. The housing project is named after Frederick Douglass, African American abolitionist, author, and reformer.
The complex was home to such notable figures as Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, Lily Tomlin, Loni Love, and Etterlene DeBarge, during their early years. The claymation animated series, The PJs, was based on the housing project, as well. It was also seen in a screenshots for the movie Dreamgirls, as well as D12's debut music video. RuPaul mentions the Brewster Projects in the intro of the 1992 song, "Supermodel (You Better Work)".
Hastings Street was the center of black culture in Detroit between the 1920s and 1950s.. Located at the southern edge of the future Brewster-Douglass Homes, the street was the home of innumerable salons and entertainment venues. With the addition of the high-rises and an influx of people moving into the housing, Hastings Street was billed as the place you could fulfill any conceivable need. Hastings Street was most famously referenced in the John Lee Hooker song, "Boogie Chillen'".
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