Trevor Thomas and Brandon Lynum bought the crumbling 5,623-square-foot mansion in June 2023 for $300,000. They have since sunk more than $2 million into repairs, breathing life back into the Palmer Woods property. The house, built in 1927, had been abandoned for years after Franklin’s death in 2018.
Before Franklin, the home belonged to Patricia Hill Burnett, a portrait artist who painted Rosa Parks and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Franklin used the house as a second residence and entertainment hub from 1994 until her health declined. Water damage and wildlife infestation left the interiors in rough shape by the time the estate sold it to a Michigan developer, who later passed it to Thomas and Lynum.
The restoration team, comprising nearly 50 contractors, focused first on saving the original architecture. They revived limestone-framed windows, hardwood floors, and decorative plasterwork. Distinctive Detroit-made Pewabic tiles remain in place, a nod to the city’s ceramic heritage.
The couple is also curating a historical exhibit within the walls. Displays include a signed Andy Warhol print, outfits from the biopic Respect, and a gold-record plaque for Franklin’s 1998 album A Rose Is Still a Rose. School groups and nonprofit organizations are already touring the space, drawn by the dual legacy of Franklin and Burnett.
Work continues on the slate roof, third floor, and basement. Thomas and Lynum aim to finish the project in five years. For now, the Rose Estate stands as a restored monument to Detroit’s musical and civil rights history.