Industrial Bank Building

The Washington Boulevard Historic District is significant as an intact streetscape of architecturally distinguished commercial buildings dating from 1901-1930 with a majority built in the 1920s. The buildings individually represent some of the finest early Twentieth Century architecture in Detroit and as a group illustrate the evolution of the commercial style in Detroit as it was practiced by some of Michigan's master architects. The district is also significant as a product of a planned real estate development inspired by the City Beautiful movement and carried out as the private artistic endeavor of one family and their architect, Louis Kamper.

About 1927-28 Kamper designed for the Book family the twenty-two-story, brick-and-limestone, Industrial Bank Building at 232 V. Grand River — at the northeast corner of Washington Boulevard and Grand River Avenue. This building differs from his earlier commissions in that it is more in line with contemporary concepts of skyscraper design. It is ornamented with Art Deco-influenced Gothic motifs, but derives its visual impact chiefly from the vertical emphasis of the continuous piers between the windows. The building tapers at the top with the use of minor setbacks and is topped by an ornate parapet wall. This building was recently rehabilitated for residential use.