Cass-Davenport Historic District

The Cass-Davenport Historic District is significant as an intact group of architecturally distinguished, early twentieth century apartment buildings in the Cass Farm Survey Area. The district, now surrounded by vacant land, conveys the scale, massing, craftsmanship and materials of both the first and second phase of apartment buildings constructed in the survey area. Additionally, the buildings together reflect the change in apartment building design; from the small scale, luxurious apartment buildings of the turn of the century to the large scale, high density apartment buildings constructed between 1915 and 1930. The buildings were designed by architects and builders, some of whose work was prominent in Detroit.

The Cass-Davenport Historic District, located at the intersection of Cass Avenue and Davenport in the Cass Farm Survey Area, covers approximately 12 acres and contains four, early twentieth-century apartment buildings clustered about the intersection. Three buildings line Cass Avenue and extend to the sidewalk. The two buildings along Davenport are unevenly set back; the corner building extends to the sidewalk and the easternmost building is further setback, providing for a shallow yard. Each building exemplifies a style different from the others, from Tudor Revival to Italian Renaissance. The twentieth century revival style architecture displays a variety of design elements and craftsmanship.