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Historic home, Midtown, since 1888

G.H. Whitaker House

Under renovation

A drawing of G.H. Whitaker House from its recorded size and style. No photo we may share has turned up yet.
Built
1888
Standing
138 years

The G.H. Whitaker House at 677 W. Canfield St, built in 1888. The family, the architect, the block it belongs to and what stands there today.

On the map

The house today, from the street

Today, from the street

G.H. Whitaker House from the street today Photo: Street View, 2026

What is there now

Under renovation

  • Lived in by its owner Homestead exemption on file Source: County parcel records

Building permits at this address

6 permits since October 2025

$504,000 in declared work (2 of 6 name a figure) Newest: Alter revision permit, July 20, 2026

  1. Alter revision permit

    Revision to BLD2024-00002 to reflect the amended scope of work to Code per plans. (Per HDC Cert#20-6662,... Read all

    Revision to BLD2024-00002 to reflect the amended scope of work to Code per plans. (Per HDC Cert#20-6662, Exterior & inte

    $252,000

  2. Plumbing permit

    4plex remodel

  3. Mechanical permit

    Owners unit occupies west side of first and second floor, also all of third floor.

  4. Mechanical permit

    Install furnace, A/C, gas piping. and one exhaust fan for bathroom and one exhaust fan for kitchen exhaust

  5. Mechanical permit

    Install furnace, A/C, gas piping, 2 bath fans, gas piping and duct work.

  6. Alter revision permit

    Revision to BLD2021-02018 per plans. (Per HDC Cert#20-6662, Exterior & interior alterations & revision to... Read all

    Revision to BLD2021-02018 per plans. (Per HDC Cert#20-6662, Exterior & interior alterations & revision to BLD2019-04662

    $252,000

Source: City and county building permits

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

The house at 677 W. Canfield St went up in 1888, in Detroit's Gilded Age, when stove works, shipyards and railroads made the city's first fortunes.

It carries the name of G.H. Whitaker.

Today it sits inside West Canfield, one of the blocks Detroit has chosen to protect.

On the city map it falls in Midtown.

Most homes like it are lived in, so enjoy it from the sidewalk.

Timeline

  1. 1888 Built
  2. 1970 Protected by the city West Canfield
  3. 2025 Alter Revision permit October 13, 2025
  4. 2026 5 building permits $252,000 in declared work, the latest July 20
  5. 2026 Today Under renovation

Where it is

677 W. Canfield St.

On this map

  1. G.H. Whitaker House This place
  2. 691 W. Canfield St. 50 ft
  3. Harry B. Parker House 50 ft
  4. John Ward House 100 ft
  5. West Canfield Condos 110 ft
  6. West Canfield Historic District 120 ft
  7. William H. Kessler House 150 ft
  8. John C. Day House 190 ft
  9. Walter Watton House 190 ft

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

More from Detroit in the 1880s

Around the block

It is in Midtown. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.

In the Detroit Ledger

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. G.H. Whitaker House from the street today Photo: Street View, 2026

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.