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Monday, September 8, 2008

Detroit Neighborhoods: Historic Berry Subdivision

At this time of mayoral transition in the City of Detroit, it would be good to learn about the neighborhood in which the official residence of the mayor is located: the Historic Berry Subdivision.

The Berry Subdivision, previously called "Park View", is named after Joseph H. Berry, founder of the Berry Varnish Factory. Official platting began in 1914, but the first house was built in 1898 for clothing manufacturer Marvin M. Stanton. This home is known as "The Castle" because of its numerous turrets, towers, and roofs. Joseph Berry's daughters inherited the land and began to develop the subdivision with high-quality single-family homes. Some of the most expensive homes in Detroit are located here.


Many of the homes in the Berry Subdivision are located directly on the Detroit River and have boat slips on their property. There are 118 lots in Berry, but several homeowners took advantage of a building slowdown during and after the Great Depression, and bought and attached many of the undeveloped lots next to their homes, giving the subdivision the appearance of even more spaciousness. Four lots wre made into a dedicated park, named after World War II hero David F. Stockton.

The house on the easternmost edge of the Berry Subdivision is the Manoogian Mansion, the official home of the Detroit mayors since 1966. Alex Manoogian purchased the home in 1939 after the original owner lost the house during the Depression. The founder of Masco Corporation donated the home to the City of Detroit to be used as the official residence. Only New York City has as beautiful a home for its official mayor's residence; but only Detroit's mayoral residence has water frontage. Gracie Mansion in New York City faces a warehouse.

The boundaries of the Berry Subdivision are East Jefferson Avenue, Holcomb Avenue, the Stanton Canal, and the Detroit River.


Shameless Plug: please read my husband's blog The "D" Spot...


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