Detroit's Oldest Brick Home Up for Grabs, Asks $287K

The Moross House, built in 1848 by Detroit brickmaker Christopher Moross, is up for sale. The 3600-square-foot, three-bay townhouse, has just two bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Until recently, the home was a museum and garden center. It sold as a single-family home when the Detroit Garden Center moved into larger quarters. This house has an amazing pedigree as the oldest home in the city. The house's zoning permits it to operate as a hotel, so a smart owner could really capitalize on Detroit's burgeoning tourist trade.

Though it clearly needs work, many fabulous period details remain, including four fireplaces and enough built-in bookcases to house a small town library. The backyard, though in need of tending, is huge. There's an outbuilding that seems to be filled with old architectural pieces from the home—we spotted a fireplace mantel. The house was restored in 1971, and the 70s kitchen remains in full force. The bathrooms also need a serious makeover—the fake brick in one of them would make Christopher Moross spin in his grave.

Given the size, and the different commercial uses the space has had, it seems likely that more bedrooms could be added, though that kind of structural redesign won't come cheap. The location is a bonus. It's directly across the street from Lafayette Park and walking distance to the Dequindre cut and the Detroit Riverwalk.

·1460 E Jefferson Ave [Zillow]
·Moross House [Wikipedia]