Completed in 1931, the Northeastern Branch YMCA at 10100 Harper Avenue was designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. Groundbreaking took place on Nov. 30, 1930, and the cornerstone was laid on May 12, 1931. The new building cost approximately $625,000 and was the sixth YMCA facility constructed as part of a $5 million expansion campaign launched in 1925.

The building was formally dedicated in on Oct. 18, 1931, with more than 1,000 people attending the dedication ceremony. Contemporary reporting described the new facility as a substantial addition to Detroit's growing network of YMCA branches. The five-story building included dormitory accommodations, a gymnasium with an overhead running track, and an indoor swimming pool, along with facilities for the YMCA's educational, recreational and community programs.

In 1997, the former YMCA became a temporary shelter operated by Operation Get Down, serving homeless men and individuals returning to the community after incarceration. The shelter operated there for more than two decades before closing on November 2, 2023, because of a lack of funding. The approximately 140,000-square-foot building was subsequently listed for sale for $999,000. It has now sat vacant for almost three years and is in poor condition, making its future increasingly uncertain.