Building, Mexicantown, since 1920
Bagley-West Vernor Historic District
Still standing, photographed 2024
- Opened
- 1920
- Style
- Italianate
- Standing
- 106 years
Designed by Donaldson & Meier
Bagley-West Vernor Historic District has stood on Generally in Mexicantown since 1920, 106 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
More photos of Bagley-West Vernor Historic District
What is there now
Standing
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
In 1920, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America, Bagley-West Vernor Historic District opened in Mexicantown.
Donaldson & Meier drew the plans, in the Italianate style.
It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2026.
Go see it at Generally, 2443-3500 Bagley St. and 1753-4750 W. Vernor. Photos never get the scale right.
The Bagley-West Vernor Historic District is a commercial historic district, covering much of the commercial area of the Mexicantown neighborhood of Detroit. The district contains two groupings of buildings.
Timeline
- 1920 Built Designed by Donaldson & Meier
- 2026 Listed on the National Register January 22, 2026
- 2026 Today 106 years and still standing
Where it is
Generally, 2443-3500 Bagley St. and 1753-4750 W. Vernor
On this map
- 1 Bagley-West Vernor Historic District This place
- 2 Wilshire Apartments 0.2 mi
- 3 YMCA Western Branch 0.5 mi
- 4 Yorba Hotel 0.5 mi
- 5 Southwest Detroit Hospital 0.5 mi
- 6 Basilica Ste. Anne de Détroit 0.5 mi
- 7 United States Postal Service Roosevelt Park Station 0.5 mi
- 8 Maybury School 0.5 mi
- 9 Grosfield Building 0.6 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Architect
Donaldson & MeierAmerican architectural firm, founded 1882. Designed the Penobscot Building (1928) and 58 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Donaldson & Meier
More from Detroit in the 1920s
-
Cadillac Place
Building, built 1920, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Bethel Community Transformation Center
House of worship, built 1922, by Albert Kahn
Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Cadillac Square Building, [Cadillac Square and County Building, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4325-2210-thumb-8479e96c24.jpg)
Cadillac Square Building
Hotel, built 1918, Beaux Arts, by Bonnah & Chaffee, demolished 1976
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Book Tower
Hotel, built 1917, Italian Renaissance, by Louis Kamper
Photo: Albert duce, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
House of worship, built 1916, Neo Gothic, by George F. Diehl
Photo: Nheyob, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Westin Book Cadillac Hotel
Hotel, built 1924, Neo-Renaissance, by Louis Kamper
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Mexicantown. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
- Wilshire Apartments Building, built 1926, Tudor Revival 0.2 mi
- YMCA Western Branch Building, built 1928, Spanish Romanesque, by Malcomson & Higginbotham 0.5 mi
- Yorba Hotel Hotel, built 1926, by Pollmar & Ropes 0.5 mi
- Southwest Detroit Hospital Building, built 1974, by Eberle M. Smith Associates, demolished 2025 0.5 mi
- Basilica Ste. Anne de Détroit House of worship, built 1887, Gothic Revival, by Albert E. French 0.5 mi
-
United States Postal Service Roosevelt Park Station
Building, built 1923, Commercial style
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.5 mi
- Maybury School School, built 1911, by Malcomson & Higginbotham 0.5 mi
- Grosfield Building Building, built 1893, Late Victorian, by Joseph E. Mills 0.6 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Mexican Town Bakery Hubbard Farms Historic District Detroit MI 5-16-2011 Photo: Fbabbie, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Mexican Village Restaurant in Mexicantown on Detroit's Southwest Side, 2009 Photo: Lian Chang, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- La Gloria Bakery in Mexicantown on Detroit's Southwest Side. 3345 Bagley Ave, Detroit, Michigan, USA, 2008 Photo: Matt Hampel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- I dream of Evie's Tamales and have not been here for over ten years, 2024 Photo: Judith Jackson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Armando's Mexican Restaurant Hubbard Farms Historic District Detroit MI 5-16-2011 Photo: Fbabbie, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A former bank building (People's State Bank), now El Zocalo, a Mexican restaurant in Mexicantown on Detroit's Southwest..., 2010 Photo: Jp, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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.