At the northern edge of Detroit, you’ll find an eclectic collection of apartment buildings around Palmer Park. Mostly built in the 1920s and 30s, the buildings display a wide range of styles, but many are fascinating Art Deco structures.

Today, some have been renovated, while others remain run-down, and a few buildings are vacant.

Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylis in 1929, this large building on the edge of Highland Park was used to store equipment and vehicles for Western Electric and Michigan Bell. The 12-story main tower has a beautiful Art Deco relief and transom in the main limestone entryway.

For several decades, it housed operations for the Yellow Pages. After a $52 million renovation in the early 2010s, the building and its long industrial wings now house staff for Neighborhood Services Organization and permanent supportive housing for the homeless population it serves.

This Charles Noble-designed 15-story building, with its gorgeous orange glazed brick first story, was opened as an opulent residential hotel in 1927. After decades of struggling, it closed in 1997. Soon after, the building was vandalized, including the 50 terra cotta lion on its exterior.

Will the Lee Plaza ever get its next chance? After a private developer couldn’t get the funding to make a redevelopment happen, the city put out RFPs to try to get the space activated again. Most recently, plexiglass windows were installed.

The Fisher Brothers also funded this neighboring building. Once dubbed the New Center Building, it’s now known by its architect: Albert Kahn. This office building was built after the big 1920s building boom and depression hit.

Today, it’s planned to be redeveloped into 211 apartments.

The 14-story Albert Kahn–designed structure built in 1927 was, according to Historic Detroit, originally built for the Maccabees, “a fraternal organization that provided low-cost insurance to its members.” The building held studios for radio and TV broadcasting, and has been owned by Wayne State University since 2002.

If you’re visiting, be sure to step inside to see the shimmering ceiling mosaic in the lobby.

Standing on the west side of Cass Park in the shadow of the Masonic Temple, the impressive S.S. Kresge World Headquarters was designed by Albert Kahn in 1927. It served as the headquarters to Kresge—then Kmart—until the retailer moved to a much bigger location in Troy in the early 1970s. Today, it’s known as “The Block” and houses various startups and offices.

Outside, the Fox Theatre embraces Art Deco design. Inside, you’ll find a mix of Indian, Chinese, Burmese, and Hindu motifs. The theatre—once one of Detroit’s great movie palaces—was designed by C. Howard Crane and opened in 1928. It spent decades as a successful movie, vaudeville, and concert theatre.

The Fox fell on hard times in the 1970s and 80s and was purchased by the Ilitch family in 1987. They funded an extensive and faithful renovation (the only building they’ve finished renovating), and the theater regularly hosts concerts and musicals.

Designed by Albert Kahn as offices for the Detroit Free Press in 1925, the building has impressive relief carvings by Ulysses Ricci of famous figures (like Benjamin Franklin) in its limestone exterior.

The building would be the paper’s home for nearly 75 years, but it left in 1998 and has sat vacant since 2001. Bedrock purchased the building in 2016 and is converting it into a mixed-use structure with a 2021 completion date.

One of the many skyscrapers designed by Louis Kamper for the Book Brothers on Washington Boulevard in the 1920s. It originally held offices for wealthy bankers, but in the 1980s was converted into senior and low-income housing. In 2018, an $18-million renovation began—the building’s first in years. The developers also renewed the affordable tax credits for another 30 years.

When the Penobscot Building opened in early 1929, it was the tallest building in the U.S. outside of Chicago and New York, and remained Detroit’s tallest building until the Renaissance Center opened in 1977. A red beacon on top can be seen from 40 miles away, and the limestone tower has setbacks in its top 17 floors.

Another great work of Wirt C. Rowland, Corrado Parducci also left his mark on the building; it’s adorned with Native American motifs on the exterior. The Penobscot was named after a tribe in New England—financier Simon Murphy hailed from Maine and made his fortune in lumber.

Bought by Andreas Apostolopoulos for the bargain-basement price of $5 million in 2012, there have been recent reports of deteriorating conditions inside the building.

The “Cathedral of Finance” certainly has a church-like quality about it; a three-story, multicolored lobby welcomes visitors, and the main banking lobby has a ceiling matted with horsehair to absorb sound.

Opened in 1929, the Guardian Building was funded by the Union Trust Company, who commissioned Smith, Hinchman & Grylls and architect Wirt C. Rowland to design the 40-story building. Rowland used 1.8 million orange bricks, which were then called Guardian bricks. Terra Cotta and tiling make their way up to the top of the building. Sculptor Corrado Parducci designed the relief symbols flanking the entryway. Inside, more stepped arch designs continue, along with stained-glass near the elevators, and Numidian marble—yes, they opened the mines back up for it—lining the lobby.

The building’s lobby is a popular stop on downtown walking tours. Some shops and a bank are housed in the lobby. Wayne County, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, and SmithGroup JJR are notable tenants.

Another 1920s skyscraper designed by Louis Kamper, the 23-story Water Board Building has three tiers: a five-floor base, 15-story shaft, and three-story penthouse. Since being built, it’s always had offices for the Board of Water Commissioners and Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

The fifth-floor boardroom is especially opulent. According to Historic Detroit: “The room features floor-to-ceiling walnut paneling. Two huge, mahogany pillars on dark green marble bases support paneled beams, and serve to frame the conference table in the middle. Small ceiling murals help to enhance the quiet dignified aura.”

There aren’t many places where you can find an Art Deco lighthouse. Belle Isle’s marble-clad, 58-foot William Livingstone Lighthouse was designed by Albert Kahn. Fences surround it so visitors can’t get too close these days. A light still shines at the top, and it can be seen by ships and freighters in Lake St. Clair.

Designed by Charles N. Agree in 1929, the Vanity Ballroom once hosted a variety of seminal musicians like Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, the Stooges, and the MC5.

It’s been closed for decades. Even though some of the details remain, the interior of the building is in very rough shape. Saving this one would be a big win for the east side and the city.