Colonial Apartments — 1005 Parker Street, Detroit, MI 48214

The Colonial Apartment Building (also known as the W. E. Roney’s Apartment House) at 1005 Parker Street, Detroit, MI 48214 is one of the West Village Historic District’s most refined examples of early twentieth-century apartment design and a model of Detroit’s golden age architecture in a neighborhood otherwise defined by single-family homes. 

Developed by the multi-talented Detroit architect Samuel C. Falkinburg (also the designer of the Westminster Apartments on Westminster Avenue), the three-story luxury Colonial Apartments complex at 1005 Parker Street was first commissioned on behalf of developer W. E. Roney and is hard to miss with its generous-sized setback, clean landscaping, and elegant façade. 

Originally constructed to house six large units above a raised basement, the building quickly attracted tenants of acclaim, including William G. Smith (treasurer of Berry Brothers, Ltd., a prominent Detroit varnish and paint manufacturer), Fritz Goebel of the Goebel Brewing Company, and even the prolific architect Maxwell Grylls, in large part thanks to its refined detailing and prime location.

As for its styling, the 1005 Parker Street residence features a Colonial Revival style, grey brick, rusticated masonry, and classical ornament. 

That said, its most prominent feature is its grand entrance, which includes six fluted Ionic columns holding up a semi-circular portico with a full-sized entablature and doubles as sheltered exterior porches for the upper-floor units with an eye-catching limestone string-course neatly dividing the stories.

Each level presents its own unique design aesthetic: the first-floor is defined by stunning leaded and beveled glass windows displaying early twentieth-century craftsmanship, the second floor has wood muntin and mullion transoms, and the third-floor features round-arched windows offset by smaller semi-circular accent windows.

The end result was an architectural composition that is both balanced and varied — disciplined in proportion yet rich in detail. 

Today, the Colonial Apartment Building remains one of the West Village Historic District’s most treasured architectural gems, embodying the neighborhood’s seamless blend of elegance, history, and residential charm and shining a light on Falkinburg’s ability to elevate everyday apartment buildings into something truly distinguished.