The Belle, a century-old Beaux-Arts landmark on Broadway in downtown Detroit, is officially back in action this week after a top-to-bottom renovation that turned the historic building into 42 apartments, street-level retail and a new community space. Local dignitaries cut the ribbon in front of freshly restored cornices and original decorative details, now paired with modern finishes. The overhaul is the latest adaptive reuse project aimed at putting more residents and active storefronts back into Detroit's theater district.
The renovation and grand opening are captured in a photo gallery that shows the finished community room and retail storefronts, according to The Detroit News. Photographer David Guralnick documented the ribbon cutting and interior details, with images that highlight the restored facade alongside newly finished public areas. The Detroit News describes the project as work on a roughly 100-year-old Beaux-Arts building now adapted for contemporary use.
What Is Inside The Belle
The Belle now holds 42 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments that range from roughly 400 to nearly 1,000 square feet, with in-unit laundry and finishes geared toward downtown renters, per WXYZ. On the ground floor, the building includes retail space and a community room intended for neighborhood programming, and pre-leasing for the apartments began in May. The project is listed at 1346 Broadway Street in the heart of the downtown core.
Design Team And Restoration Details
Architectural restoration was led by Kraemer Design Group, with interiors by Pophouse, a team that set out to preserve tall windows and decorative moldings while adding modern kitchens, quartz countertops and custom cabinetry, according to Kraemer Design Group. Project materials and photos show shared amenities that include a community lounge with kitchenette, private office space and secure bike storage. The completed spaces are designed to balance the building’s historic character with contemporary details aimed at downtown residents.
What It Means For Downtown Detroit
The Belle is part of a broader wave of conversions that turn older commercial and historic buildings into housing and mixed-use space, a strategy large developers have leaned on in recent years. Larger-scale projects, including the multi-year restoration of the Book Tower, have been cited in developer materials as examples of how preservation can be paired with residential and retail uses to help reactivate central corridors. Supporters say projects like The Belle keep historic streetscapes intact while adding housing that can support nearby theaters, restaurants and shops.
Pre-leasing is already underway, and project teams say residents could begin moving in as early as this summer. For neighbors along Broadway, The Belle offers a very visible sign that the push for more downtown housing and active ground-floor uses is still gaining steam.
