The Stone Soap Building on Detroit's eastern riverfront has been vacant for at least 20 years. Now, the City of Detroit has accepted plans by a developer to turn the blighted complex into an impressive residential building featuring apartments and condominiums. The industrial complex was first built in 1909 and was home to several companies over the decades. In the 1970's, the Stone Soap company, which manufactured detergents, moved into the building in the 1970's according to the Detroit News. It remained there until the 1990's and once they moved out the building remained vacant.

Over the course of two decades the building fell into disrepair, requiring millions of dollars in renovation to keep the structure in tact. Just this year, the City issued a request for proposals from developers. Banyan Investments, which is heavily invested in the city, was chosen as the developer. The company plans on investing $27M into the project which will create new housing units in the Riverfront neighborhood. The building will also feature 13,000 square feet of retail space according to Banyan's representatives. Detroit's non-profit performance troupe "Shakespeare in Detroit" announced it will lease a space in the new building. This is one of many projects slated to transform the Riverfront.