Building, Rivertown, since 1894
River Place Luxury Apartments
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1894
- Standing
- 132 years
Designed by Donaldson & Meier
The River Place Luxury Apartments has stood on River Place Dr. in Rivertown since 1894, 132 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
River Place Luxury Apartments 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
The River Place Luxury Apartments opened in 1894, in Detroit's Gilded Age, when stove works, shipyards and railroads made the city's first fortunes.
Credit the design to Donaldson & Meier.
It still stands and still opens its doors.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 500 River Place Dr and look up.
Timeline
- 1894 Built Designed by Donaldson & Meier
- 2026 Today 132 years and still standing
Where it is
500 River Place Dr.
On this map
- 1 River Place Luxury Apartments This place
- 2 Atwater Brewery and Tap House 320 ft
- 3 300 River Place 340 ft
- 4 Parke-Davis and Company Pharmaceutical Company Plant 390 ft
- 5 Garden Court Apartments 0.2 mi
- 6 Franklin H. Walker House 0.2 mi
- 7 Joseph Campau House 0.2 mi
- 8 Parke-Davis Research Laboratory 0.2 mi
- 9 WGPR-TV Studio 0.2 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 1890s
-
Coronado Apartments
Building, built 1894, Romanesque Revival, by William S. Joy
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Hurlbut Memorial Gate
Monument, built 1894, Beaux Arts
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Belle Isle Pavilion, [Pavilion, Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4294-2180-thumb-512916ec9d.jpg)
Belle Isle Pavilion
Building, built 1893, by Spier & Rohns, demolished 1950
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
![Floral Clock at Water Works Park, Floral clock, Water [Works] Park, Detroit, Mich.](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4470-2305-thumb-1a3e4ef4e0.jpg)
Floral Clock at Water Works Park
Monument, built 1893
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Harmonie Club
Building, built 1895, Beaux Arts, by Richard E. Raseman
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Dunbar Memorial Hospital
Monument, built 1892, Romanesque Revival
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Rivertown. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
- Atwater Brewery and Tap House Built 1916 320 ft
- 300 River Place Building, built 1929, Romanesque Revival, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls 340 ft
-
Parke-Davis and Company Pharmaceutical Company Plant
Building, built 1891, Romanesque Revival, by Donaldson & Meier
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
390 ft
-
Garden Court Apartments
Building, built 1915, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
-
Franklin H. Walker House
Built 1896, Neo-Jacobean
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company Collection, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
-
Joseph Campau House
Built 1835
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
-
Parke-Davis Research Laboratory
Hotel, built 1902, Romanesque Revival, by Donaldson & Meier
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
-
WGPR-TV Studio
Building, built 1961
Photo: Andrew Jameson, 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.
- River Place Luxury Apartments from the street today Photo: Street View, 2020
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.