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Building, Medbury Park, since 1919

Fisher Body 21

Still standing, photographed 2011

View of the Fisher Body plant in New Center, Detroit, 2009 Photo: Patrickklida, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1919
Standing
107 years

Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls

Fisher Body 21 has stood on Hastings St. in Medbury Park since 1919, 107 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Fisher Body 21

Blue and teal plate glass windows in the Fisher Body #21 plant in Detroit, Michigan, 2011 Photo: Dylan L. Tanner, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Interior view of the Fisher Body #21 Plant in Detroit Michigan during its abandonment, 2011 Photo: Dylan L. Tanner, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fisher Body Plant 21, on Piquette Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, United States, 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Under renovation

Building permits at this address

5 permits since February 2025

$168.9 million in declared work (4 of 5 name a figure) Newest: Alter revision permit, October 13, 2026

  1. Alter revision permit

    Revision to BLD2025-03049 to reflect the amended scope of work to Code per plans. See BLD2024-01725 for... Read all

    Revision to BLD2025-03049 to reflect the amended scope of work to Code per plans. See BLD2024-01725 for Master Permit de

    $56.3 million

  2. Electrical permit

    Install a new 13.2kv primary service. Install a new 4000-amp, 277/480-volt service

  3. Alter revision permit

    Revision to BLD2024-01725 to establish Parking Lot, Accessory to 6051 Hastings at 666 & 991 Harper &... Read all

    Revision to BLD2024-01725 to establish Parking Lot, Accessory to 6051 Hastings at 666 & 991 Harper & Landscaping changes

    $56.3 million

  4. Change of occupancy or use permit

    Per SLU2022-00142, Change of Occupancy/Use to Residential Use (433 Lofts) combined in structures with... Read all

    Per SLU2022-00142, Change of Occupancy/Use to Residential Use (433 Lofts) combined in structures with permitted Commerci

    $56.3 million

  5. Alter revision permit

    Revisions to BLD2023-02025 as per plans (corrections code references on A-000). No change to plans, scope... Read all

    Revisions to BLD2023-02025 as per plans (corrections code references on A-000). No change to plans, scope of work or cos

    $1

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

In 1919, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America, Fisher Body 21 opened in Medbury Park.

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls drew the plans.

Crews are bringing it back, and Detroit is watching.

Go see it at 6051 Hastings St. Photos never get the scale right.

Timeline

  1. 1919 Built Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
  2. 1993 Closed
  3. 2025 3 building permits $112.6 million in declared work, the latest December 18
  4. 2026 2 building permits $56.3 million in declared work, the latest October 13
  5. 2026 Today Under renovation

Where it is

6051 Hastings St.

On this map

  1. Fisher Body 21 This place
  2. Ford Piquette Avenue Plant 0.2 mi
  3. Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District 0.2 mi
  4. New Center Stamping (Fisher Body Plant No. 37) 0.2 mi
  5. Stanley Hong's Mannia Cafe 0.4 mi
  6. Art Stove Co. Building 0.4 mi
  7. The Addison Apartments 0.4 mi
  8. Tushiyah United Hebrew School-Scott Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church 0.4 mi
  9. Lancaster and Waumbek Apartments 0.4 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Traveler100, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls

American architectural and engineering company, founded 1853. Designed the Penobscot Building (1928) and 68 more in Metro Detroit

Also by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls

More from Detroit in the 1910s

Around the block

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

Photo credits

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

  1. View of the Fisher Body plant in New Center, Detroit, 2009 Photo: Patrickklida, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Blue and teal plate glass windows in the Fisher Body #21 plant in Detroit, Michigan, 2011 Photo: Dylan L. Tanner, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Interior view of the Fisher Body #21 Plant in Detroit Michigan during its abandonment, 2011 Photo: Dylan L. Tanner, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Fisher Body Plant 21, on Piquette Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, United States, 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Broken plate glass window in the Fisher Body #21 plant in Detroit, Michigan, 2011 Photo: Dylan L. Tanner, CC BY-SA 4.0, 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.