Building, Riverbend
Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business District
Photographed standing in 2008
- Style
- Early Commercial
Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business District has stood on E. Jefferson between Eastlawn and Alter in Riverbend. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
More photos of Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business 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
Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business District is one of the places that gives Riverbend its character.
It was built in the Early Commercial style, and it still reads that way from the sidewalk.
It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
Next time you are nearby, stop at E. Jefferson between Eastlawn and Alter and look up.
The Jefferson, Chalmers Historic Business District is a neighborhood located on East Jefferson Avenue between Eastlawn Street and Alter Road in Detroit, Michigan. The district is the only continuously intact commercial district remaining along East Jefferson Avenue, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
Where it is
E. Jefferson between Eastlawn and Alter
On this map
- 1 Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business District This place
- 2 St. Columba Episcopal Church 480 ft
- 3 Vanity Ballroom 0.2 mi
- 4 Vanity Ballroom Building 0.5 mi
- 5 Savarine Hotel 0.6 mi
- 6 Guyton Elementary School 0.7 mi
- 7 Carstens Elementary School 0.7 mi
- 8 Continental Motors 0.8 mi
- 9 Defer Elementary School 0.8 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Around the block
It is in Riverbend. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
- St. Columba Episcopal Church House of worship, built 1927, English Gothic Revival, by Lancelot Sukert 480 ft
-
Vanity Ballroom
Building, built 1929, Art Deco, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Albert duce, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
-
Vanity Ballroom Building
Building, built 1929, Art Deco, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Albert duce, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.5 mi
- Savarine Hotel Hotel, built 1926, by Louis J. Chesnow 0.6 mi
- Guyton Elementary School School, built 1922, English Tudor, by Malcomson & Higginbotham 0.7 mi
- Carstens Elementary School School, built 1915, Arts & Crafts, by William E. Higginbotham, demolished 0.7 mi
- Continental Motors Building, built 1912, by Albert Kahn 0.8 mi
-
Defer Elementary School
School, built 1924, Tudor Revival
Photo: Appraiser, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.8 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business District Detroit Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Houses in the East Ferry Avenue Historic District, Detroit, Michigan, United States, 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business District Detroit Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, 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.