Afred J. Fisher, the auto baron who built a 16,000 square-foot mansion in 1926 in Palmer Woods, couldn't have imagined that his opulent home one day would become a “spiritual retreat” for people battling addictions.
But that appears to be happening at 1771 Balmoral Drive, according to The Detroit News.
Christine MacDonald and Joel Kurth of the paper write that the home was purchased in August for $1.6 million by an anonymous buyer, and is being is being rehabilitated and upgraded to become Breathe Life Healing Center, officials with the California-based company confirmed Monday. The operation caters to upscale clients.
That anonymouis buyer, Brad Lamm, has now made his identity known. He's an addiction specialist, who bought the house, said he wants to make the house his primary residence.
It could open this winter, The News says.
Some neighbors voice concerns, Mara MacDonald of WDIV reports.
"At this point I’m really confused. So, what we’re doing is we’re going to take a close look at the zoning ordinances for Palmer Woods and we’re also going to learn a little bit, or a lot more, about what the healing centers are all about and then find out where we are,” Craig Vanderburg, the president of the Palmer Woods Association, tells WDIV.
Palmer Woods is "a jewel in Detroit and we want to keep it that way," he adds
