Highland Park to Demolish Historic Art Deco Apartment Building

February 12, 2026

After standing vacant for 17 years, the historic Highland Towers building in Highland Park will be demolished using pandemic relief funds at an estimated cost of $1 million. The Art Deco apartment building, which once housed wealthy auto executives, has been empty since 2009 when DTE shut off power for non-payment and residents were forced to leave. City and Wayne County officials announced the demolition as part of a larger $5 million blight elimination initiative, though community members express mixed feelings about losing the historic structure.

Who is affected

Former residents of Highland Towers who were forced out in 2009
Current homeless residents using the building for shelter
Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald and city officials
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and Wayne County Land Bank
Highland Park residents living near the building, including Carolyn Baker and Larrea Young
The Adamo Group (contracted demolition company)
Low-income seniors at the downtown Leland House facing similar utility shutoff situations

What action is being taken

The Wayne County Land Bank is demolishing Highland Towers using pandemic relief funds
The Adamo Group is carrying out the demolition work under contract
Wayne County is implementing a $5 million effort to eliminate blight in Highland Park

Why it matters

This demolition represents both progress and loss for Highland Park. The building has been a dangerous symbol of urban decay for nearly two decades, posing safety risks to residents, but it also holds significant architectural and historical value as an Art Deco structure from the 1920s-30s. The situation highlights broader issues of how utility shutoffs can devastate low-income communities, as the building's abandonment resulted from DTE cutting electricity rather than structural problems. The demolition is part of a larger economic revitalization effort that residents fear could lead to gentrification, making their involvement in future development plans crucial for maintaining community character and affordability.

What's next

The demolition is expected to be complete this year. However, no explicit plans have been stated for what will replace the building or how the site will be developed afterward. City officials confirmed there is no current plan to salvage architectural elements from the structure.

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle