Rentals (Detroit, Flint, Auburn Hills: apartments, houses, safe area)

[elfyum]

What would be a relatively safe area to rent in wayne county? I was looking at listings in freep & I was wondering if grosse point (all of the grosse places ,also grosse ile) is ok. An area where you can walk to grocery, drug store, etc but not IN downtown.
When I say relatively safe, I'm from NYC though I haven't lived there in 22 years. Am now in Miami. So what I mean is a place where yeah you need to keep your door locked, but no break ins & yeah you might not want to walk around alone at the wee hours, but basically you won't get mugged or worse at "nomal hours", say up til 11pm/12/1am! Obviously if there's a walkable area where it's even better than realatively safe, do tell!
I know Oakland & Macomb are safer, but I don't assume you can walk around there.
And I guess unless I lived in Auburn Hills I'd have to drive to The Palace, huh? I'd appreciate all details.
I seriosly believe I was from Detroit in another life. I'm the Number One PISTONS fan (which sucks being in Miami GRRRR ) and have been since 88! And I used to be a serious Met fan & even though they have a good chance this year, I have this deep down desire to see the Tigers win it all! I have never been to Detroit but I feel I must one day because it's really strange the affinity I feel for it! Freaks everyone I know out! I even drive a Ford (94 Escort Wagon - love that car!) & always defend them!
Also are there areas where you can rent or buy small houses in the same type area-walkable, not downtown & not break-in/mugger etc land? Thank you! GO PISTONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chiroptera]

From my relatively limited knowlege of that part of Michigan - yes, in several parts of Grosse Pointe you can walk to stores. The part of Grosse Pointe I'm familiar with (the ex's kids lived down there) is quite "upscale" but adjacent to some rather blighted neighborhoods. Even so, I imagine it's rather safe if you're prudent and all that.
Most of Michigan doesn't seem set up for walking and from what I hear, public transportation just about everywhere is inadequate.
Oakland & Macombe, can't think of any place with real "walking around" potential off the top of my head.
The Palace is in the midst of a tangle of freeways, highways and shopping malls. I guess it might be possible to walk there but I'm not sure why you'd want to!

I'm so uninterested in sports, I don't even know what size balls these Pistons people play with. Big round ones, I think?
I know golf is little white balls, football is that sort of oblong looking thing, basketball is big round ones and baseball is medium-sized white ones with stitching. Hockey players don't use balls.
I am quite sure there's some amusing social commentary to do with sports and various balls but I had better not go there.

[elfyum]

Thanks travelling_paws! Where are you from/do you live now? I appreciate your input! I would also appreciate input from someone who lives/has lived in wayne county! C'mon guys help a past-life-Detroiter out here!

[mariatherese]

honestly, i'm not sure if what you are looking for exists!

i currently live in oakland county- in clawson, bordering both troy and royal oak area. but i work and go to school in detroit. i'm from northern michigan but moved down here 2 years ago to go to school.

the whole area is made up of neighborhoods good and bad, all next to each other. you could live close to downtown in a ritzy place like grosse pointe or indian village, though it is surrounded by ghettos. btw-grosse pointe is where all the yuppies live. unless you make oodles of money, you wont be able to afford it.

people that i know who live in the city dont walk around much. during the day, sure, but detroit is dead after 5pm. they usually just go to destinations- drive there, park, go to the bar, go home. no one wants to be in the city because of safety issues.

but, greek town is probably the coolest place in detroit. i have walked around there at night before, alone, short little wee woman that i am, but i probably shouldn't have! i felt really unsafe doing it. but there is somewhat of a nightlife there. definitely some cool bars. i always see people walking around there- just not alot (but for detroit, its alot LOL). the only place to live near there is in lafayette towers (i always hear people say that lafayette towers is the only place they'd live in detroit). i have some friends that lived in lafayette towers near greek town and we have walked from there to greek town a few times before- late at night.

however, i do know other people who have lived in midtown, near wayne state campus, and liked that area. you could check the park shelton there- high rise apartments. but again- very unsafe IMO.

and right outside of detroit is hamtramck. a lot of artists live there and there is a nightlife and some cool bars,but it is also considered by many to be unsafe. my brother-in-law is an artist and has lived there for years and just loves it, though. its polish town. i think it has a lot of character.

other than that, the rest of the close-by detroit area is ghetto. highland park is the worst i guess.

now, these places are OK but remember, detroit is a ghost town. so i dont think you will find what you are looking for. but, i hope i'm wrong- i'm not a native detroiter, so perhaps someone else out there can help you better!

i could tell you more about the suburbs in oakland & macomb county (ferndale is cool) cuz thats what i know, but unfortunately that doesnt help. but if you change your mind about those places, just ask.

[mariatherese]

i guess to sum it up, the only places i would live (and I, personally, wouldn't live in Detroit) are the lafayette towers near greek town. maybe hamtramck- which is outside the city, and maybe wayne state campus area. but, the whole metro detroit area seems chlostrophobic and unwalkable to me! sorry. just being honest.

[chiroptera]

Originally Posted by elfyum

Thanks travelling_paws! Where are you from/do you live now? I appreciate your input! I would also appreciate input from someone who lives/has lived in wayne county! C'mon guys help a past-life-Detroiter out here!

First I gotta ask - why are you moving to the Detroit area, again?
I grew up in several countries, lived in California, Colorado, currently Michigan for the last almost-five years. Right now I am in Flint.
So I'm a relative newbie to MI. I'm a painting contractor and have worked throughout several counties, so know a little from that perpective but that's about it. Generally my jobs are in pretty wealthy areas.
Don't know Detroit much at all, except the Eastern Market is excellent - I think it's the largest year 'round farmers' market in the US.
Other than that, the little I've seen of the city is pretty dull and depressing and the outlying areas don't impress me much either.
And what mariatherese said.

[elfyum]

Well, I know Detroit isn't exactly known as being a safe & friendly place...!
But I feel it is a place that I must experience in my life. That's why I asked about renting because I don't assume I'll end up wanting to stay there for more than a year or so, if that. But who knows? So like everyone else on these boards, I'm trying to gather as much info as possible from those who know.
I appreciate all the info! Anything else anyone wants to add is also appreciated!
Thanks t_p & maria - I will contact if I have more specific ?s

[mariatherese]

i truly believe you can be happy anywhere as long as you have a positive attitude. good luck!

here is a website to lafayette towers (very secure building):
removed

[elfyum]

Took a look & seems interesting! Definately priced right & nice apts too! So is that downtown? And that area is walkable but only while the sun's up? Oh wait-you said you were wandering around at night.. If I might ask, how old are you? Usually the yonger one is, the less "danger" like that phases them.
I was in all kinds of crazy areas at all kinds of crazy hours growing up in NY!
I am now 40 & though I look much younger & not exactly "normal" - I tend to dress rather "bummy" - I don't know if I'm quite as up to that sort of thing - though I do have eyes in the back of my head & tend to walk real fast! How is driving around that area? Would it be like driving in Manhattan? (i.e. crazy drivers, grid lock, lots of narrower one way streets) or is it more highway type. (I mean that lafayette tower area - downtown?) Thanks again!

[mariatherese]

i'm 26.

greek town is very walkable- and lafayette towers are right near greek town.

um, i wouldnt say thats "in the heart of downtown" exactly. as i remember, lafayette towers are not surrounded by a lot of tall buildings or anything like it would be if it was right downtown.

but downtown is dead anytime except M-F 9-5 (suburban professionals). on your typical weekend, when most cities would be busy, detroit is dead. there is hardly anyone walking around. but, head over to greek town, and there are a lot more people, it starts to feel like a city again. thats why i suggest that area instead of downtown. though they are really just blocks from each other.

i have never been to NY so i dont know how driving compares. but i think its confusing. but again- you are not talking to a city girl here! but no gridlock in the lafayette tower area, or really anywhere in downtown detroit. there are lots of highways around- those get gridlocked during rush hour but downtown streets are always fine. lots of one-way streets. you will get accustomed to the "michigan turnaround." it is hard to navigate detroit because it is not a grid- it is more like a spider web (check out a map, you will see).

i've been looking up the "cass corridor" area (that wayne state campus area i mentioned). seems like though a lot of people say that is the worse area of detroit, it is on the up and up. i personally know a few people who lived there and tell me it has changed so much in the last few years, and they like it there. there has been an influx of students and professionals to that area. it is also walkable- though not anything like greek town (i just love greek town, its so cute, and lots of fun). so dont forget to check that out, too. though this is in midtown area- not really in walking distance to downtown & greek town.