Meet The Brothers Who Are Fixing Up The Castle on Grand River And Cass

For 20 years, Tom and Dave Carleton have been quietly and methodically going about their business downtown, witnessing — and contributing to — the growth of Woodward’s creative corridor, writes Richard Bak in Hour Detroit. 

As far back as 1992 they bought the six-story Good Housekeeping building at 1250 Library, renovating the dilapidated space into some of the area’s first residential lofts. 

At the same time, they built a business. Today, their media-production company, Mindfield USA, has 15 full-time employees and a solid client list that includes several automakers and professional sports teams. Last November, they and Mindfield’s other principal partner, Sean Avery, bought The GAR Building from the City of Detroit. They paid $220,500 and expect to spend another $2 to $3 million renovating it. 

Despite the inevitable intrusion of scrappers, taggers, urban spelunkers, and pigeons over time, The GAR has fared better than might be expected.

 “It’s weathered well,” says Robb McKay, an architect with the State Historic Preservation Office in Lansing. “Compared to many other properties in Detroit, it’s practically in move-in condition.”