Detroit-Urban agriculture-9394

The Lafayette Building, located at 144 West Lafayette, rose in the Detroit skyline in 1923. Designed by C. Howard Crane and standing 14 floors tall, the unusual v-shape of the building allowed natural light to stream into the atrium. Over time, as the city struggled socially and economically, the building lost tenants, eventually falling into ruin. By 1997, the store owners left the building. The demolition of the Lafayette Building began in October of 2009. By January 2010, the building was gone. Many of the design elements of Lafayette Greens were inspired by the Lafayette Building that once stood on the site. (Lafayette Greens) - See more