<P> The Algiers Motel at 8301 Woodward Avenue near the Virginia Park district of Detroit was a black - owned business , owned by Sam Gant and McUrant Pye . It was one of three motels in Detroit owned by Gant and Pye , the others being the Alamo , at Alfred and Woodward , and the Rio Grande , on West Grand near Grand River . Prior to Gant and Pye 's purchase in 1965 , the motel 's white owner had barred black people from staying at the motel . The Algiers was known to police as a center of drugs and prostitution and was raided regularly by the vice squad . It was located close to the then - headquarters of General Motors ( GM ) and executives of the firm were regular customers . To the rear of the motel , a three - story detached home , known as the Manor House or Annex , was also rented to clients . Its street address was 50 Virginia Park Street , and it was accessible from Virginia Park and through a driveway from Woodward . The motel itself was laid out in the shape of a `` U '' , with its office , pool and cabana rooms to the left and a two - story wing of rooms to the right around its parking lot . The Manor House could be seen from Woodward Avenue . </P>
where is the algiers motel located in detroit
8301 Woodward Avenue near the Virginia Park district