Real Estate Blog - Grosse Pointe Real Estate

Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 664 Shoreham Road

Last week we presented the work of Minoru Yamasaki, one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century. In a career spanning three decades, he created over 250 buildings throughout the world, including the World Trade Center, and at least five projects in Grosse Pointe. 

This week we are going to explore one of his residential projects in greater depth – 664 Shoreham, Grosse Pointe Woods.

What makes the architectural heritage of Grosse Pointe so unique is how the varying architectural styles from different eras are represented and characterized. Many of the older homes that were designed by nationally recognized designers shout, “I am by Albert Kahn”, or “of course I was designed by George D. Mason”. However, there are others, the hidden…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Introducing the Work of Minoru Yamasaki

Last week we took a more in-depth look at the work of Anne (Krebs) Crane. Ms. Crane and her husband were responsible for several distinctive homes in Grosse Pointe, including their own property – 15 Moorland, Grosse Pointe Shores. 

Given Ms. Crane’s association with Minoru Yamasaki we thought it was about time we presented the work of one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century. In a career spanning three decades, he created over 250 buildings throughout the world, including the World Trade Center, and at least five projects in Grosse Pointe.

Minoru Yamasaki was born in Seattle, 1912. He graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Architecture, in 1934. Shortly after graduating he studied for a master’s degree in…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Introducing the Work of Anne Crane

Last week we brought you the story of 735 Lake Shore, the old and the new. The original home that was located on the property, when it was razed, and the new residence that has taken its place. 

This week we take a more in-depth look at the work of Anne (Krebs) Crane. Ms. Crane was responsible for the design of the new home at 735 Lake Shore for Estelle and Courtney Rankin. The contemporary glass front house was completed in 1974, and was just one of several projects Ms. Crane worked on. 

As we previously reported, Anne Crane was born in Belleville Illinois, in 1924. She graduated from the University of Illinois School of Architecture, in 1946, and moved to Grosse Pointe, in 1950, where she would reside for 62 years. When she moved to the area…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – 735 Lake Shore The Old and The New

Last week we presented the work of Williams & Coughlan, a firm that we had yet to feature. The duo created at least two homes in Grosse Pointe, between 1924 and 1926.

This week we are going to bring you the story of 735 Lake Shore, the old and the new. The original home that was located on the property, when it was razed, and the new residence that has taken its place. 

The Old
The history of 735 lake Shore dates back to 1930 when Albert Kahn completed a grand Tudor estate for Alvan Macauley. The home was one of the architectural masterpieces that were constructed on the shores of Lake St. Clair during the golden era of stately mansions.

The MaCauley residence was located on 52 acres (20 acres were in Grosse Pointe Woods), and stretched from…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to The Work of Williams & Coughlan

Last week we explored the work of H. Sanborn Brown, an architect we had never covered before. He created at least six homes in Grosse Pointe, including three properties on Touraine.

This week we would like to present the work of Williams & Coughlan, a firm that we have yet to feature. The duo created at least two homes in Grosse Pointe, between 1924 and 1926. 

The first project by Williams & Coughlan was 1343 Buckingham, completed in 1924 for Dr. Charles J. Foley. The 3,092 sq ft, four-bedroom residence is created in an English architectural style. The interior features oak floors, and stained gumwood throughout. On the exterior, the triangular sections, a steeply pitched roof, and multiple long narrow windows dominate the front elevation. The…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to The Work of H. Sanborn Brown

Last week we presented Ellair Place and some of the homes that exist on the picturesque dead end street by the lake. Ellair Place has possibly one of the longest periods of time, 102 years, from when the first home was constructed (in 1895) through to the last addition (in 1997), of any street in Grosse Pointe.

This week we are going to explore the work of H. Sanborn Brown, an architect we have never covered before. He created at least six homes in Grosse Pointe, including three properties on Touraine.

H. Sanborn Brown’s first project in the community was 577 Washington, completed in 1935 for Dr. C. N. Skau. The charming four-bedroom home was built in the Georgian Colonial style. S.C Hadley, who owned the Hadley Construction Company, built it. 

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to Ellair Place

Last week we explored 855 Ellair Place, a mid century modern home completed in 1951 by George Bickford Brigham, Jr. for William Harris.

This week we stay on Ellair, to present some of the other homes that exist on this picturesque dead end street by the lake. The houses on Ellair Place cover a broad spectrum of architectural styles, ranging from English manor, Cape Cod, Colonial through to midcentury modern. The homes were constructed over a period of two centuries. Noted architects, including; Smith, Hinchman and Grllys, and George Bickford Brigham, Jr. created them for some rather prominent families. 

Ellair Place is located between Edgmont Park and Bishop Road. There are currently ten houses on the street, however, this wasn’t always the…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 855 Ellair Place

Last week we presented 824 Lake Shore, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Estate. Set on 4.3 acres with approximately 445’ of water frontage the property features a 5,490 square foot midcentury modern main house, a charming guest cottage (created as an artist studio, in 1966), and a white clapboard farmhouse.

This week we head to 855 Ellair Place – a mid century modern home completed in 1951 by George Bickford Brigham, Jr. for William Harris.

George B. Brigham, Jr. has been called Ann Arbor’s “first modern architect”. He created at least 40 modern style homes in the city, and was nationally recognized as an early pioneer in the use of pre-fabricated materials in residential architecture. Source: www.a2modern.org. His work in Grosse Pointe however, appears…

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Historical Architecture of Grosse Pointe – Welcome to 824 Lake Shore, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Estate

Last week we featured the work of J. Robert F. Swanson who was involved in creating at least four homes in Grosse Pointe – including 21 Colonial Road, and 203 Cloverly.

This week we would like to present 824 Lake Shore, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Estate. Set on 4.3 acres with approximately 445’ of water frontage the property features a 5,490 square foot midcentury modern main house, a charming guest cottage (created as an artist studio, in 1966), and a white clapboard farmhouse.

The entire parcel encompasses three pieces of land  - the first was once the location of 820 Lake Shore - a midcentury modern home (that has subsequently been razed), the second is the main house, 824 Lake Shore, while the third was once the location of 830 Lake…

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2019 Annual Report – Grosse Pointe Real Estate

Higbie Maxon Agney is pleased to offer its 2019 Grosse Pointe Real Estate Annual Report. Within this report you will find information on average sale prices, sales volume, real estate trends, and much more.

Our goal is to give you an accurate and complete picture of the 2019 Grosse Pointe housing market. All of the graphs were produced internally for Higbie Maxon Agney using MiRealSource multiple listing service. We are confident that these are the best statistics currently available on the Grosse Pointe housing market, and we hope that you will find the contents of this report readable and useful. Over the coming months we will use this information to help our clients make informed, educated real estate decisions. 

2019 was an extremely…

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