The Lofts At Rivertown in Detroit

The History

Rich in tradition, The Lofts at Rivertown was formerly the Frederick Stearns & Company Building owned by pharmaceutical mogul, Frederick K. Stearns. The Company was founded in 1855 and soon after established laboratory branches throughout the world.

The original Stearns building was built on farmland in 1899 for approximately $85,000. The three-story turn of the century building housed Stearns & Company’s main offices, pharmaceutical laboratories and warehouse. Its architects and builders included Frank Conger Baldwin (also a writer and civic leader), William Buck Stratton of Stratton & Baldwin and world-renowned 20th century industrial architect, Albert Kahn, who designed the building’s interior tower in 1906. Kahn designed some of Detroit’s most significant landmark buildings such as the Fisher Building, General Motors Building, numerous buildings for Ford Motor Company, as well as the estate of Edsel Ford and the Bloomfield Hills home of the Booth newspaper family, known today as Cranbrook House.

The landmark, 250,000 square foot Stearns building was adopted into the National Register of Historic Places in October of 1980.

In March of 1989, developers invested $20 million to restore the Stearns Building to its grandeur. The former warehouse emerged as The Lofts at Rivertown upon renovation, offering 175 upscale loft apartments with 44 different floor plans. Other additions included a swimming pool and a fully equipped fitness center complete with jacuzzi and dry sauna.

In May of 2002, The Lofts at Rivertown became the largest condominium conversion in the city of Detroit. Today it is one of Detroit’s most sought-after residences.