DMC/Wayne state area question (Detroit, Warren: apartment complexes, rentals, houses)

[newneel]

Hi,
I am a foreign female and have got a job offer from Detroit Medical Center next to Wayne State University campus. I am in GA state right now. While reading some posts regarding detroit safety issues, I am little worried.

I am planning to stay in Sterling Heights suberb and plan to commute by car to DMC hospital for work during day shift. Please advise what should I do ? Any suggestions ?

I am little worried, should I accept the job or not ? I would really appreciate your response.

[Coldjensens]

That seems like a terribly long commute. Why sterling Heights? There are nicer places that are closer. In fact a lot of people live comfortably right on or near campus. That may not be for you, but I think that you can find a shorter commute and a nicer place to live.

[newneel]

Thank you Coldjensens.
Please suggest other good and safe suberbs for working female. How about Center Line/ Farmington Hills/ ? How is Madison heights and Dearborn ?

[cardwellave]

I live near Dearborn. Depending on where in Dearborn you may want to look at other areas. If you're thinking East Dearborn, be open to an overwhelming majority of Arab-Americans all the way up to about Outer Drive going west in Dearborn. There is also parts of Redford, Dearborn Heights (particularly the South end as I feel it's a little more affordable and down to earth. Wyandotte, Lincoln Park, Garden City, Southgate, Taylor, Allen Park, are all worth looking at. I know the suburbs quite well, especially Dearborn, Garden City, Dearborn Heights, so feel free to send me a private message and I can show you some nice properties listed in good areas. Also what is your price range?

[Coldjensens]

You have a lot of options. Many many suburbs are basically nice, clean urban sprawl (nice subdvisions filled with simlar cookie cutter houses and apartment complexes, strip and shipping malls). A few offer downtowns and neighborhoods rather than subs. Some offer older homes. Some are mostly new. Some are small town while others have awesome shopping. Some are on or include bodies of water of various size. Some are wooded. Some are urban. Can you tell us a bit more about what you want?

Different people like different things. Some people love newer subdivisions, others would not live in one if the house was free. Some like to be near malls or even strip malls for convenience. Others like downtowns, small towns or rural atmosphere. Other factors matter as well.

How far do you want to drive?

Do you want quiet or fun/lively?

Do you want natural setting or neighborhood/subdivision

scenic?

Water?

small town?

rural?

Farmington Hills is reasonably nice. Not very exciting.

Dearborn has some nice parts, some are ick.

I do not know anything at all about Madison heights.

I am not sure why people chose what I consider bland areas when there are so many places that offer special things like water, woods, big parks, downtowns, quaint small town lifestyle, etc. However some people obviously love these "bland" areas. Perhaps it is because there is always a trade off for something more special. Accessibility, price, etc. Please let us know what you are looking for and you will get lots of suggestions.

[newneel]

Thanks. I really appreciate your help.

I prefer the balanced place where mostly professionals live either in apts or houses. Farmington Hills looks nice and not far from downtown. I don't want to drive more than 45 minutes during rush hour and don't care about scenic preference.

[cardwellave]

I would think it could be more than 45 minutes somedays from Downtown to Farmington Hills. Think winter time traffic in the snow, etc. If you're looking for more white collar you might want to look to Oakland County, but I'd say if you want a shorter commute to look into St. Clair Shores, Madison Heights, or the nicer parts of Warren (away from 8 Mile). You might also want to look south to Taylor or Southgate, but these areas are a little more blue collar.

[rontayan]

Dude, you all missed. Ferndale! That area is just outside Detroit, has a good community, safe place for a single female, and is near I-75 which takes you straight to downtown Detroit and the Medical center. Your commute from Ferndale to Downtown in Rush hour traffic would be 30 to 35 max. Or you can Take Woodward right downtown for a 40 minute stop light trip.
Also if the freeway gets backed up you can just take Woodward straight back into Ferndale. Don't worry about your safety you make too much money to be in a bad area. LOL.
As for Downtown, Keep your car parked in a secured area and DON'T give the bums any money just ignore them. And you will be okay.
Downtown isn't bad at all. Also one thing about Murder its always personal. Random people rarely get killed here. When people get killed in Detroit its about the following.
1.Drugs buying\selling\territory take over.
2.Women
3. Gangs

[Coldjensens]

Sunds like you should look in the north eastern suburbs (Birmingham, Royal Oak, Ferndale) or look further north into the high end areas rochester, bloomfield maybe troy or utica. You could consider the grosse pointe cities, but it woud be hard to find renta. To the south, you could look at Grosse Ile. To the extreme West you may like Northville or Plymouth. You ight find soe rentals in Canton. These are at teh liits of your 45 minute comute.

[newneel]

Thank you all for your help. I think, I will move to Madison Heights area. Looks decent. Not far too.