House of worship, Palmer Park, since 1956
Detroit Unity Temple
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1956
- Style
- Art Deco
- Standing
- 70 years
Designed by Arnold & Fuger
The Detroit Unity Temple has stood on Second Ave. in Palmer Park since 1956, 70 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
Detroit Unity Temple today, from the street
What is there now
Standing and open
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
In 1956, at the height of Detroit's postwar prosperity, the Detroit Unity Temple opened in Palmer Park.
Arnold & Fuger drew the plans, working in Art Deco.
It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.
Go see it at 17505 Second Ave. Photos never get the scale right.
Timeline
- 1956 Built Designed by Arnold & Fuger
- 2026 Today 70 years and still standing
Where it is
17505 Second Ave.
On this map
- 1 Detroit Unity Temple This place
- 2 Palmer Park Apartment Building Historic District 80 ft
- 3 Merrill Fountain 410 ft
- 4 Palmer Park Apartment Building Historic District (Boundary Increase) 0.1 mi
- 5 Whitmore Plaza Apartments 0.1 mi
- 6 Palmer Lodge Apartments 0.2 mi
- 7 Spruce Log at Palmer Park 0.2 mi
- 8 Alwyne Lane Apartments 0.2 mi
- 9 Word of Power Ministry 0.2 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
More from Detroit in the 1950s
-
Ford Auditorium
Building, built 1956, International Style, by Crane, Kiehler & Kellogg, demolished 2011
Photo: Goldnpuppy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
WJBK-TV Studios Building
Building, built 1956, Georgian Revival, by John L. Volk
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
Skyscraper, built 1955, International, by Harley, Ellington & Day
Photo: 42-BRT, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
McGregor Memorial Conference Center
Monument, built 1958, International Style
Photo: © Matt Joseph / https://mattj.io, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
Park, built 1960, by William Kapp
Photo: PDru2014 from Detroit, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Huntington Place
Building, built 1960, Mid-Century Modern, by Louis Rossetti
Photo: Stilfehler, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Palmer Park. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
-
Palmer Park Apartment Building Historic District
Building, built 1925, Mixed (more Than 2 Styles From Different Periods)
Photo: Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
80 ft
- Merrill Fountain Monument, built 1901, Italian Renaissance 410 ft
- Palmer Park Apartment Building Historic District (Boundary Increase) Building 0.1 mi
-
Whitmore Plaza Apartments
Building, built 1928, Art Deco, by Wiedmaier & Gay
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.1 mi
- Palmer Lodge Apartments Built 1924, Old English 0.2 mi
- Spruce Log at Palmer Park Structure, built 1904, by Mason & Rice, demolished 0.2 mi
- Alwyne Lane Apartments Built 1926, Beaux-Arts 0.2 mi
-
Word of Power Ministry
Building, built 1949, Streamline Moderne, by William Kapp
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Detroit Unity Temple 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.