Best Neighborhoods in Detroit

The Detroit metropolitan area is vast and encompasses more than just the city of Detroit. If you are unfamiliar with the area, the suburbs surrounding Detroit are positioned one right next to the other. It's hard to make the distinction between them, and many times city services and the tone of the neighborhood can change by crossing the street. While the image of Detroit is that of industrial grittiness, there are a few jewels that I would consider are among the best neighborhoods in the Detroit area.

It's difficult to narrow down the choices, but I have picked two distinctive neighborhoods.

My first choice is for a middle class neighborhood, and that would be Royal Oak, Michigan. Located just north of the Detroit border, Royal Oak was once the eclectic destination for the yuppies of the 1990s. These days, the neighborhood has matured.

The downtown area is compact enough to walk, and there is plenty of street parking and lots near the city center. If you're lucky enough to live close by (as we are), you can forgo the car and walk to town. Once there, you'll find a myriad of choices for restaurants, shops and other things to do. The Royal Oak Music Theater features live acts, you can laugh at Mark Ridley's Comedy Club, and there's even an art theater (Main North Art Theater) that shows indie films.

If you're interested in buying a house here, now is the best time. Close to the downtown area, the homes are mostly Craftsman and were built in the 1920s. Royal Oak boasts a large area of "kit" or mail order homes, especially near the downtown area. In addition to these homes, there are several loft developments, town homes, condominiums and apartment high rises to choose from. With the flood of properties in the current housing market, it's possible to find a decent starter home for around $100,000.

The schools have recently been reorganized. City services include a farmers' market, library, golf courses, historical society, nature society and animal shelter. The city of Royal Oak must have the most small city parks I've ever seen. There's a neighborhood park every few blocks.

If you would like more information, you can find it at: http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us/

My second choice for best Detroit neighborhood would be the collective "Pointes" - Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park and Grosse Pointe Shores. This wealthy enclave, just to the east and south of Detroit, with Lake St. Clair at the far eastern border, is the epitome of old money. Along Lakeshore Drive, huge stately mansions built by automobile moguls line the drive, most of them walled and with yards as big as fairways. These communities were founded in the late 1800s, and the architecture ranges from opulent to interesting. If you aren't a Ford trust fund baby and would still like to live in the area, there are modest houses located farther away from the lake.

The public schools in the Pointes are among some of the best in Michigan. The community of parents for the most part were born and bred there, and return to the Pointes to start their own families. The campus of Grosse Pointe South looks more like a college than like the high school it is. It was also featured in the movie Grosse Pointe Blank.

Since there are five Pointes, there is no real defined downtown, and instead each has its own business district. Most of the business areas are located along Kercheval and Mack, and include trendy boutiques and a myriad of wonderful restaurants. The Pointes are easily accessible to each other by car, and are only minutes away from each other. In addition to these amusements, there are private golf clubs, and with the proximity to the water, boating is a popular pastime.

The nice thing about the Pointes is that a visit there leaves you feeling safe and insular. Life in the Pointes is like taking a trip back into time.

If you would like any further information, please see:

http://www.ci.grosse-pointe-farms.mi.us/

http://www.grossepointeshores.org/

http://www.grossepointemi.us/page/page/798071.htm

http://www.ci.grosse-pointe-woods.mi.us/

http://www.grossepointepark.org/