The Future of Urban Living
Checker Cab
Checker Cab
The adaptive use of this historic taxicab company headquarters building provides a template for the future of urban living. Built in 1927, the Checker Cab building was constructed to park the company’s fleet. We transformed the building to accommodate modern loft apartments on the upper floors while the ground level remains parking.
The innovative renovation provides an example for the reuse of parking structures, which are becoming less necessary as our society shifts away from individual car ownership. The Checker Cab project was the first in a series of prominent mixed-use buildings, known collectively as Elton Park, that have added dense residential and retail space to the Corktown neighborhood.
I remember when the Tigers left Tigers stadium and people predicted that the Corktown neighborhood would be dead. To see what's happened has been nothing short of remarkable.
Reviving Corktown
Following the relocation of the city’s Major League Baseball stadium to the central business district, Corktown experienced a decline that is now being reversed with several high-profile redevelopment projects. Our work at Checker Cab contributes to the reestablishment of a vibrant Corktown.
New Uses for Heritage Structures
Checker Cab shows that virtually any underutilized historic structure can be adapted for a modern use. Although the building had challenging floor-to-floor heights, its sturdy concrete frame and large windows made it ripe for conversion to housing.
You Want to Live in a What?
Checker Cab’s loft apartments celebrate the building’s parking structure heritage while creating cozy homes. Original concrete floors, brick walls, and structural columns and beams are balanced with warm wood cabinetry and modern conveniences.
