The potential of Ypsilanti (Detroit, Ann Arbor: condos, crime, house)

[usroute10]

Brodie734 stated that Ypsilanti is seeing gentrification as artists/hipsters are getting priced out of Ann Arbor.

Is this what is happening? Could Ypsilanti become a magnet for gentrification? It has a good-sized downtown full of charming Victorian storefronts that are largely preserved...Another smaller walkable district in Depot Town...The offerings of Eastern Michigan University... a couple of nice riverfront parks...
good proximity to Ann Arbor and the DTW airport

I know the public schools are far inferior to Ann Arbor. Crime is a little higher than in Ann Arbor.

Will Ypsilanti become the next hip magnet for young professionals in Southeastern Michigan? Why or why not?

[Coldjensens]

That would be great. Ypsi is a decent town with the bones to become an awesome town. It lacks any real draw, but maybe the cost of Ann Abror will make Ypsi the place to settle for, just like Ferndale was revitalized in part by becoming the second choice to Royal Oak.

[brodie734]

I think Ypsi has all the usual gentrification target things going for it, though it is clearly a tale of two cities. This map from Realtor.com kind of tells you everything you need to know about what is happening in Ypsilanti:



Basically the areas around downtown, Depot Town and EMU are experiencing a boom because they can offer the same housing stock as Ann Arbor for a fraction of the cost (that $244k house just east of the river? It would cost at $400k in Ann Arbor). You get the cool little shops and quirk that come with those areas and close proximity to Ann Arbor itself plus you retain some of the college town atmosphere. Obviously, though, that is not extending south of Downtown to the more economically disadvantaged areas.

[Coldjensens]

Downtown has the potential to become really cool. It already has a few neat places and a great old small town atmosphere.

[reppin_the_847]

FYI, I heard Amtrak is planning to eventually have a stop for the Wolverine trains right in Ypsilanti's Depot Town area. That can only help.

[Republic of Michigan]

Originally Posted by reppin_the_847

FYI, I heard Amtrak is planning to eventually have a stop for the Wolverine trains right in Ypsilanti's Depot Town area. That can only help.

Definitely. If there was an efficient and reliable commuter train from Ypsi to Ann Arbor, and if it went to the Airport and Downtown Detroit, things would pick up. I can see West Dearborn also picking up if a developer built more condos close to this proposed commuter line. Bascially, Ann Arbor, Ypsi, Dearborn, Corktown, Downtown, Midtown, New Center, Woodbridge, Eastern Market, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Berkley, and Birmingham would be the magnet areas.

[MI-Roger]

I have lived in Ypsi Twp for over 35 years. We have seen the city decline in that period but it is now definitely improving, maybe better than it was 35 years ago. As illustrated above by the Realtor's Map, all quadrants other than those south of Mich Ave are recovering. there are pockets of desirable homes in those areas too.

Downtown has a great small hardware store and a shoe repair shop. Lots of restaurants and quirky shops. The biggest downer is Deja Vu and that is no longer as much of a negative as it once was as its clientele seems to be declining. Still a few too many empty structures.

Some approaches into town appear sketchy to visitors, particularly along Michigan Ave from the west. The south isn't too bad as in only a couple of blocks visitors are seeing lots of old Victorian era homes in good repair. Washtenaw Ave approach is just your typical Strip Mall enshrined route, Michigan Ave from the East is mostly just 'underdeveloped' with lots of older commercial or industrial buildings (some in questionable condition) on larger parcels.

[craig11152]

Originally Posted by MI-Roger

The biggest downer is Deja Vu

When I was a kid growing up that place was the Martha Washington Theater. We used to get dropped off there on Saturday early afternoons for a show. I'm talking early to late 60's.

[Retroit]

That former industrial area along the river between Michigan and Spring has a lot of potential. Just a few years ago it was pretty spooky.