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Photo by Chris and Michelle Gerard

Saturday: Boston-Edison Opens 18 Auction Houses For Exploration

By Paul Beshouri
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By Paul Beshouri
Photo by Chris and Michelle Gerard

What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than wandering through abandoned, century-old houses before they go to auction? This Saturday (4/25), the Detroit Land Bank is opening up eighteen Boston-Edison houses that'll be auctioned off in May. Conditions range fixer-upper to mushy woodpile, with most falling somewhere in-between. Care for a map of what's available? Before you get lost in Pewabic tile solariums and smashed turquoise kitchens, know these things:
· The open house runs from 1-5 pm on Saturday. Pre-register here.
· Click the "WEBSITE" link next to any house for more photos and info.
· They're not on this map, but a handful of Virginia Park houses will also be open Saturday.
· Before visiting any house, you must check-in at 2224 W Boston. It's the glorious tudor in the photo above.


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1. Cavernous Colonial

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1635 Chicago Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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Built in 1916. Comes with wainscoting and a clawfoot tub. [6 beds/5 baths/3,300 SF]

2. Blackened Beauty

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1476 Chicago Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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Smoke-damaged but solid, built in 1915. [4 beds/3 baths/4,900 SF]

3. Georgian Gem

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1737 West Chicago Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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Built in 1915 and in surprisingly good shape. Historic details abound. [6 beds/4 baths/3,000 SF]

4. Rainbow Remod

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1940 Chicago Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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In decent shape with a sunny interior. Built in 1922. [4 beds/3 baths/4,200 SF]

5. Surviving Solarium

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1474 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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Decent shape with a glorious solarium. [6 beds/2.5 baths/2,800 SF]

6. Mid-Century Mystery

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1919 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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We have no idea how a 1961 split-level home ended up in Boston-Edison, but we're sure glad it's here. Equally mysterious is the interior, which seems to be in great condition. [3 beds/1.5 baths/2,000 SF]

7. Gutted Luxury

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1735 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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Gutted 1920s Georgian with historic details intact. [4 beds/2 baths/3,400 SF]

8. Return of the Tudor (Registration Site)

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2224 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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The flagship home of the land bank's first Boston-Edison open house has returned. Pewabic tile and a solarium await. [6 beds/3.2 baths/3,400 SF]

9. Smaller Problem

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2550 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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Smaller, but with the same historic detail and significant problems found inside its peers. The floor is partially collapsed. [3 beds/1 bath/1,400 SF]

10. Disaster Zone

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1936 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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For reasons unknown, this property won't be ready to tour during Saturday's open house. A few photos of the interior can be found at the link provided. [4 beds/2.2 baths/4,000 SF]

11. Tudor of Blue

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2525 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
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Get lost in the unique architecture and original blue kitchen tile. [4 beds/2.2 baths/3,800 SF]

12. Controlled Burn

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1925 Longfellow Street
Detroit, MI 48206
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An isolated fire and subsequent water damage are the big problems with this stately colonial. [5 beds/3.5 baths, 3,200 SF]

13. Brick Eyebrow

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2264 Longfellow Street
Detroit, MI 48206
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A friendly brick fixer-upper with an eyebrow dormer. [4 beds/2.5 baths/2,300 SF]

14. Roof Required

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1197 Longfellow Street
Detroit, MI 48202
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The roof looks like the largest of many problems in this 1916 house. [4 beds/2.5 baths/3,000 SF]

15. Worse for the Weather

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1207 Longfellow Street
Detroit, MI 48202
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This house has a million different issues, most of them stemming from a huge amount of water. [4 beds/1.5 baths/2,500 SF]

16. Mold and Gray

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891 Edison Street
Detroit, MI 48202
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Built in 1910, it's the oldest house in the Boston-Edison auction. And it shows. [3 beds/1.5 baths/1,500 SF]

17. Comforting Carpet

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2234 Edison Street
Detroit, MI 48206
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Carpet is a rarity in these auction homes, but this one has acres of the stuff. Carpet aside, the interior looks promising. [2 beds/1.5 baths/2,300 SF]

18. Trophy Tudor

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1412 Edison Street
Detroit, MI 48206
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Its radiators and hot water heater are missing, but this 1917 tudor looks almost move-in ready. [5 beds/2.5 baths/2,900 SF]

19. Arches Aplenty

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1630 Edison Street
Detroit, MI 48206
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Interior arches and a great fireplace make this one stand out, but still needs plenty of work. [4 beds/2.5 baths/2,930 SF]

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1. Cavernous Colonial

1635 Chicago Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
Built in 1916. Comes with wainscoting and a clawfoot tub. [6 beds/5 baths/3,300 SF]
1635 Chicago Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

2. Blackened Beauty

1476 Chicago Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
Smoke-damaged but solid, built in 1915. [4 beds/3 baths/4,900 SF]
1476 Chicago Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

3. Georgian Gem

1737 West Chicago Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
Built in 1915 and in surprisingly good shape. Historic details abound. [6 beds/4 baths/3,000 SF]
1737 West Chicago Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

4. Rainbow Remod

1940 Chicago Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
In decent shape with a sunny interior. Built in 1922. [4 beds/3 baths/4,200 SF]
1940 Chicago Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

5. Surviving Solarium

1474 West Boston Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
Decent shape with a glorious solarium. [6 beds/2.5 baths/2,800 SF]
1474 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

6. Mid-Century Mystery

1919 West Boston Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
We have no idea how a 1961 split-level home ended up in Boston-Edison, but we're sure glad it's here. Equally mysterious is the interior, which seems to be in great condition. [3 beds/1.5 baths/2,000 SF]
1919 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

7. Gutted Luxury

1735 West Boston Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
Gutted 1920s Georgian with historic details intact. [4 beds/2 baths/3,400 SF]
1735 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

8. Return of the Tudor (Registration Site)

2224 West Boston Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
The flagship home of the land bank's first Boston-Edison open house has returned. Pewabic tile and a solarium await. [6 beds/3.2 baths/3,400 SF]
2224 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

9. Smaller Problem

2550 West Boston Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
Smaller, but with the same historic detail and significant problems found inside its peers. The floor is partially collapsed. [3 beds/1 bath/1,400 SF]
2550 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

10. Disaster Zone

1936 West Boston Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
For reasons unknown, this property won't be ready to tour during Saturday's open house. A few photos of the interior can be found at the link provided. [4 beds/2.2 baths/4,000 SF]
1936 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

11. Tudor of Blue

2525 West Boston Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48206
Get lost in the unique architecture and original blue kitchen tile. [4 beds/2.2 baths/3,800 SF]
2525 West Boston Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

12. Controlled Burn

1925 Longfellow Street, Detroit, MI 48206
An isolated fire and subsequent water damage are the big problems with this stately colonial. [5 beds/3.5 baths, 3,200 SF]
1925 Longfellow Street
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

13. Brick Eyebrow

2264 Longfellow Street, Detroit, MI 48206
A friendly brick fixer-upper with an eyebrow dormer. [4 beds/2.5 baths/2,300 SF]
2264 Longfellow Street
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

14. Roof Required

1197 Longfellow Street, Detroit, MI 48202
The roof looks like the largest of many problems in this 1916 house. [4 beds/2.5 baths/3,000 SF]
1197 Longfellow Street
Detroit, MI 48202
Visit Website

15. Worse for the Weather

1207 Longfellow Street, Detroit, MI 48202
This house has a million different issues, most of them stemming from a huge amount of water. [4 beds/1.5 baths/2,500 SF]
1207 Longfellow Street
Detroit, MI 48202
Visit Website

16. Mold and Gray

891 Edison Street, Detroit, MI 48202
Built in 1910, it's the oldest house in the Boston-Edison auction. And it shows. [3 beds/1.5 baths/1,500 SF]
891 Edison Street
Detroit, MI 48202
Visit Website

17. Comforting Carpet

2234 Edison Street, Detroit, MI 48206
Carpet is a rarity in these auction homes, but this one has acres of the stuff. Carpet aside, the interior looks promising. [2 beds/1.5 baths/2,300 SF]
2234 Edison Street
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

18. Trophy Tudor

1412 Edison Street, Detroit, MI 48206
Its radiators and hot water heater are missing, but this 1917 tudor looks almost move-in ready. [5 beds/2.5 baths/2,900 SF]
1412 Edison Street
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website

19. Arches Aplenty

1630 Edison Street, Detroit, MI 48206
Interior arches and a great fireplace make this one stand out, but still needs plenty of work. [4 beds/2.5 baths/2,930 SF]
1630 Edison Street
Detroit, MI 48206
Visit Website