The Freelon Sugar Hill

About the Project

The Freelon at Sugar Hill is a 5-story, new construction project completed in 2022. It was co-developed by nonprofit organizations Preservation of Affordable Housing and Develop Detroit, with additional assistance from the City of Detroit.

Of The Freelon’s 68 apartments, 14 are fully-furnished and designated specifically for homeless veterans. As well, veterans who live at The Freelon can access care and services easily with a VA Medical Center across the street, which was a major reason in choosing a location for The Freelon.

Quaker supplied more than 200 windows to the project. Our V300 Series was the window of choice for several reasons:

• Optional Textured Black exterior brought a contemporary appearance that meshed with the building’s dynamic design
• CW-50 ratings — unusually strong for a uPVC vinyl window — brought structural peace of mind
• High energy-efficiency to defend against Michigan’s northern climate

Others integral in the project were: Whiting-Turner Contracting, architectural firm McIntosh-Poris Associates, and Quaker Commercial Window Distributor Mans & Sons.

About the Name

The name “The Freelon at Sugar Hill” pays homage in two ways.

“Freelon” comes from the name of the designer for the building — Phil Freelon — a prominent African-American architect who designed the structure before he passed away in 2019. He is best known for being the lead designer for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington DC. Another of Freelon’s renowned designs is the National Center for Civil & Human Rights in Atlanta.

The suffix “Sugar Hill” comes directly from the historic district in which the building is located. Detroit’s Sugar Hill area was originally a wealthy neighborhood in the late 1800s. By the mid-1900s, it had transformed into a vibrant center of arts and music hosting many influential musicians like B.B. King, Marvin Gaye and Count Basie just to name a few.

The Sugar Hill area, which only covers a few blocks, was later named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Photo Credit: poah.org