The Frank C. Melin House located at 505 E. Boston Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48202, is one of the Arden Park–East Boston Historic District’s most prominent and architecturally prestigious properties.
Built for commercial mogul Frank C. Melin by the talented 20th-century architect Louis Kamper, the home at 505 E. Boston Boulevard features a stately, balanced design scheme that commands attention without being gaudy and over the top.
It’s easily one of the most eye-catching houses on the boulevard, bolstering Arden Park–East Boston’s grand residential streetscape and architectural impact with its signature detailing, refined masonry, and intricate ornamental elements.
In short, the Frank C. Melin House is a perfect example of the high level of skill and sophistication that defined Louis Kamper’s work during Detroit’s early growth and subsequent golden age.
In fact, the East Boston Boulevard area itself was initially developed to house Detroit’s rising elite, pulling them in with spacious parcels, carefully planned landscaping, and exclusive access to the highest quality architectural design on the market.
Still paying homage to those historic roots, the Frank C. Melin House remains an essential landmark in the Arden Park–East Boston’s Historic District to this very day, helping conserve the cohesive elegance, artistry, and social prestige that has defined the area for over a century.
