Story
303 Detroit Street is more than a residential development — it’s an experience of quiet luxury in the heart of Ann Arbor’s most storied district.
storied district
303 Detroit Street
303 Detroit Street, known as the Market Place building, has long been a Kerrytown landmark. Originally constructed in 1856 as an Agricultural Hall, the brick warehouse once housed agricultural implements before undergoing a major rehabilitation in 1988, when a contemporary glass and brick addition created the office and retail complex that stands today. The building fronts Detroit Street, Catherine Street, and Fourth Avenue, with its distinctive silo stair tower and central garden court becoming part of the Farmers Market pedestrian experience. Now, local developer MAVD, together with builder Huron Contracting, is leading a transformation to convert the four-story complex into an all-residential community of 18 luxury condominiums. Each building will have an added 5 th story to create two brand-new, spectacular penthouses, each fully customizable with private balconies, palatial 9-foot ceilings, and on-site parking in a carousel with access off Fourth Avenue.
The adaptive reuse of Market Place is being led by Rueter Associates Architects, with principals Marc Rueter and James Scrivens overseeing design. Rueter, a nationally published architect with deep expertise in historic preservation, has shaped Ann Arbor’s built environment for decades, including projects such as 121 Kingsley West, the Weinmann Building, and the nearby 330 Detroit “Flatiron” residences. His sensitivity to context and history has guided a design that preserves the Market Place’s defining features—particularly the garden court and silo tower—while introducing a new chapter of quiet luxury living. Scrivens, a University of Michigan–trained architect with experience in technically complex public and residential projects, brings hands-on construction knowledge to the team, ensuring that every detail of the conversion balances heritage with innovation. Together, they have transformed 303 Detroit into a model of adaptive reuse—bridging the district’s 19th- century history with a vision for 21st-century urban living.