Once-elite Detroit Club heads to public auction under a cloud
By JC Reindl, Detroit Free Press | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The four-story stone and red brick clubhouse is at the downtown corner of
The new owner, real estate investor
Bidding will open at
The auction is specific to the real estate, although what's left of the club's furnishings could be included for a reasonable offer, Snoek said.
But for some of the remaining members, this final chapter in
The club and Uralli have been locked in a legal dispute since February over ownership of several antiques that may or may not still be in the building.
Past president
Booth believes the incorporation papers and rare books were lost during Uralli's clubhouse renovations.
"They really didn't care about the history," Booth said. "They just wanted to get it repainted and tarted up for resale."
Uralli's lawyer,
"Even something as ridiculous as an exercise bench," she said.
"I am very hopeful that the matter will be resolved," said
Steeped in history, the
Numerous visiting dignitaries were entertained there, including Presidents
The club was where Gov.
A Cold War visit in 1959 by Soviet Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan generated international headlines as picketers marched and threw eggs outside the club while the Soviet leader dined inside.
The club's membership peaked at about 1,000 during the 1950s.
To help pay bills, in 1979 the club sold an original
The sale netted about
Last year, the original painting sold at auction for
More financial difficulties nearly forced the club to close in 1996.
A group of younger members succeeded in cutting expenses, beefing up its catering business and lowering rates to attract new members.
That reprieve lasted only so long. In 2011 with only about 30 members, the
The club continued to meet in the building and lease space from the Abrahams until the end of December, when the Abrahams sold the property to Uralli for
Club Member Bradley Thompson said the Abrahams' sale came as a surprise to other members.
Uralli also owns the surface parking lot next door to the
Contact JC Reindl: 313-222-6631 or [email protected]. Follow him on
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