Fire Department Repair Shop

The former Detroit Fire Department Repair Shop is now the home to FD Lofts, reflecting Urban Life Development’s passion to breathe new life into old historic buildings and create new uses for them into the new century.

The site is steeped in Detroit and Fire Department history. Since 1865, Urban Life Development is the only owner of the property besides the City of Detroit. Originally the site of the Fire Department’s horse stables, horse training track and horse hospital, this is where horses for all of the city’s fire stations were trained and cared for. The FD Loft building was constructed in 1917 as part of the department’s transition from horse-drawn to motorized vehicles which began in 1908 and was completed in 1922.

The FD Loft building defines Russell Street with its early 20th century large industrial steel sash windows and brick pilasters with terra cotta ornamentation. The FD crest of the Detroit Fire Department, our inspiration for the FD Lofts, is centered above the terra cotta plate bearing the building’s date of construction, 1917.

The FD Lofts now contain over 30 high quality loft spaces from 900 to 1700 square feet for living, live/work or business use. FD Lofts, with its unique history, architecture, and location, location, location within the heart of Eastern Market, is the premier loft address in Detroit. Lofts are available for lease now.