Building, East Village, since 1931
Kean Apartments
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1931
- Style
- Art Deco
- Standing
- 95 years
Designed by Charles Noble
The Kean Apartments has stood on E Jefferson in East Village since 1931, 95 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
Kean Apartments today, from the street
What is there now
Standing and open
- Electrical permit Replacing DTE 4.8kV service with standard DTE secondary commercial 240V 3PH service Source: City and county building permits
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 1931, as Detroit pushed through the Depression, the Kean Apartments opened in East Village.
The design came from Charles Noble, working in Art Deco.
It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 8925 E Jefferson and look up.
Timeline
- 1931 Built Designed by Charles Noble
- 2025 Electrical permit October 7, 2025
- 2026 Today 95 years and still standing
Where it is
8925 E Jefferson
On this map
- 1 Kean Apartments This place
- 2 The Kean 120 ft
- 3 Hibbard Apartment Building 270 ft
- 4 Monteith Elementary School 390 ft
- 5 Jeffersonian Apartments 0.1 mi
- 6 North One Apartments 0.2 mi
- 7 Pilgrim and Puritan Apartment Complex 0.2 mi
- 8 Marvin Stanton Home 0.2 mi
- 9 The Shepherd 0.2 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Lee Plaza, by Charles Noble. Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Architect
Charles NobleArchitect. Designed the Lee Plaza (1927) and 2 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Charles Noble
- Lee Plaza 1927
- Elwood Grill 1936
More from Detroit in the 1930s
-
Brodhead Naval Armory
Building, built 1930, Art Deco/Art Moderne, by Stratton & Hyde
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Denby High School
School, built 1930, Art Deco, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Ambassador Bridge
Structure, built 1929, by Jonathan Jones
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
David Stott Building
Skyscraper, built 1929, Art Deco, by John Donaldson
Photo: Einar Einarsson Kvara aka Carptrash, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Cooley High School
School, built 1928, Mediterranean Revival, by Donaldson & Meier, demolished 2026
Photo: Chuckjav, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
El Tovar Apartments
Building, built 1928, Art Deco, by Robert J. West
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in East Village. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
-
The Kean
Building, built 1931, Art Deco
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
120 ft
-
Hibbard Apartment Building
Building, built 1924, Renaissance Revival
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
270 ft
- Monteith Elementary School School, built 1906, by Malcomson & Higginbotham 390 ft
-
Jeffersonian Apartments
Skyscraper, built 1965, by Gino Rossetti
Photo: The original uploader was Mikerussell at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.1 mi
- North One Apartments Building, built 1930, Art Deco / Spanish, by Gay John B. 0.2 mi
-
Pilgrim and Puritan Apartment Complex
Building, built 1924, Neoclassical / Commercial Brick, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Jermaine Rivers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
- Marvin Stanton Home Built 1899 0.2 mi
- The Shepherd House of worship, built 1912, Romanesque, by Donaldson & Meier 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.
- Kean Apartments from the street today Photo: Street View, 2022
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.