A former Detroit bank with two vaults, and a past life as an after-hours club, is back on the market.
Built in 1925, the property just west of Corktown was transformed into a one-of-a-kind single-family home and later featured on HGTV. Is listed for $1.1 million.
The offering includes an adjacent building, formerly a bar, now used as a fully furnished three-bedroom Airbnb generating more than $40,000 annually, according to the MLS listing.
The limestone bank building spans about 3,000 square feet and blends historic architecture with modern living. Original details remain prominent throughout, including terrazzo floors, marble, intricate trim, oversized arched windows, exposed brick, and soaring 18-plus-foot ceilings. A grand copper vestibule with restored wood doors anchors the front entrance.
The home’s design reflects its layered history while adapting the space for contemporary use.
The former bank vault on the main level now serves as a den. A second vault space in the basement, once used for safe deposit boxes, has been reimagined as a wine cellar, preserving another piece of the building’s original function.
“We did everything,” said Lynne Savino, 63, who purchased the property with her husband, Michael, in 2013 after living in Detroit’s Green Acres neighborhood. “We wanted to live in an unconventional space.”
The original vault doors were already gone when the couple purchased the property at 3401 Michigan Ave., but much of the building’s character remained intact.
The initial renovation took about nine months, with additional improvements completed over several years. The main living area features an open layout, with the living room flowing into a kitchen anchored by a 27-foot cement countertop and a 17-foot island designed for both everyday living and entertaining, according to listing agent Bill Swanson of O’Connor Realty Detroit.
The two-bedroom, two-bath home previously served as the couple’s primary residence.
Former commercial spaces have been thoughtfully reimagined throughout. Behind the main vault, a former employee bathroom has been converted into a modern full bath with a shower. The expansive basement offers flexible space for additional living, work or recreation.
Private courtyard
Upstairs, a primary suite overlooks a private courtyard, an urban oasis tucked behind the building. Additional stairs lead to the roof and offer potential for expanded outdoor living space.
The property’s artistic character developed organically. Savino said she approached a group of artists working nearby on Michigan Avenue and invited them to paint inside the building.
“One of them, Ken Dushane III, who goes by Phybr, created a mural here,” she said, pointing to a bold mural of a koi-phoenix hybrid in vivid orange tones with flame-like fins that create a sense of movement. “It was the first piece he ever did with a paintbrush.”
Dushane and his collaborators also painted a shipping container behind the property and nearby buildings. Savino said the artist has since gone on to complete large scale projects across the country.
Before its residential conversion, the building operated as an illegal after-hours club, according to Savino, who said she stripped layers of purple paint from the original wood doors in the vestibule, a remnant from its nightclub days. Portions of graffiti remain in parts of the basement and have been intentionally preserved as a reminder of the building’s evolution.
The property has been on the market for about 40 days. It was also listed twice in 2025, first at $1.3 million in May, later reduced to $1.25 million, and then relisted at $1.4 million in September, according to Realcomp II.
For Savino, the home has always been more than a place to live.
“It’s a unique place.” she said. “It’s been an adventure because people have seen the progress and things changing, and the street art outside catch people’s attention.”
Brendel Clark writes about real estate and other topics for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bclark@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit bank-turned-home with 2 vaults for sale again at $1.1M
Reporting by Brendel Clark , Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
