The structure, designed by Albert Kahn, was built in 1905[2] and originally featured 50 luxury apartments that were later changed in the 1920s to accommodate 113 hotel rooms.

The hotel originally had a large open penthouse used for gambling and serving liquor during the Prohibition, as well as a hidden tunnel leading to three adjacent store on Woodward Avenue used by the hotel owners as an escape tunnel during the Prohibition.

[4] The facade of the original building was altered (likely in 1936 when Woodward Avenue was widened) to add the Art Deco elements apparent on the front.

[5] Albert Kahn designed this structure at 3408-3414 Woodward Avenue in 1912; it was built in 1919 as a print shop.

Wayne State University's Bonstelle Theatre is located at 3424 Woodward at the north end of the district; it was originally the Temple Beth El.