Library Lofts: From "Fire Sale" to Home of Detroit's Most Expensive Rental

Detroit's most expensive rental unit has humble roots. Brothers Tom and David Carleton, whose restored Grand Army of the Republic Building houses offices of their business, creative agency Mindfield, and restaurants Republic and Parks and Rec, began with an overhaul of 1250 Library. In 1992, The brothers paid $120K for the 98-year-old downtown building. David Carleton called the buy "A fire sale," because the brothers had to dismantle a wall for wood to heat the space. Today, the 5000-square-foot Library Lofts live/work space is up for rent for a staggering $8000 a month.

The gigantic space features a wide-open floor plan. The unit has its original maple floors, 18' foot ceilings, a glass conference room , 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. The large windows offer great city views, and as space for a business, you're in good company, with Vicente's Cuban Cuisine, the only place in Detroit that will sell you a growler of Sangria, occupying a space of its own in the mixed-used building. The main space is a trip—to Italy because uber modern round, floating kitchen has a wall-sized replica of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel fresco the Creation of Adam.

We're not sure if the place would make a good restaurant, or how you work out live part of the live/work arrangement in a place where the (non-commercial) kitchen is in the first floor public space. A little piece of Mindfield remains—the company's name is part of a comics-inspired mural in the living space's exterior foyer.

·Starter Home [Curbed Detroit]
·Mindfield Continues Renovation of Grand Army of the Republic Building [Curbed Detroit]
·Where to Drink Sangria in Detroit Right Now [Eater Detroit]
·1250 Library [Maxim Properties]