Downtown Detroit or Royal Oak/ Ferndale--Help! (Livonia, Grosse Pointe: foreclosure, crime, hotels)

[mogo]

I kind of feel that, 10 - 15 years ago, RO was what downtown Detroit should have been. A fun place to go morning, noon and night. Now downtown Detroit is a fun place morning, noon and night. Downtown Detroit has a 37% lower crime rate than the national average. And I don't always feel that safe at night in RO with the drunk meatheads running around. I think both places are great, but I prefer the city over the burbs these days.

Great thread to bring back.

[becksimms01]

I would recommend Royal Oak for the safest bet. More expensive, but less crime. Ferndale is nice though and growing in popularity- plus it's pretty safe too. Royal Oak has so many fun things to do downtown! Detroit I'd avoid.

[jeanniepep]

So glad to see the thread revived, as I'm currently buying a house in Ferndale! So I'm VERY glad to see all the positive comments about the Royal Oak/Ferndale area.

I used to live in a Royal Oak apt about 10 yrs ago and really liked it there; it was up north of 13 Mile though and I always wanted to be a little closer to downtown (stumbling distance, lol). Now that we're in a position to buy, we would have been very happy in either city but ultimately fell in love with a little bungalow close to 9 Mile & Woodward. I'm excited to be able to walk to anyplace in Ferndale, bike to anyplace in Royal Oak, and we're still just a short drive from all the great things downtown Detroit has to offer (sports, museums, etc).

VERY much looking forward to having so many options for fun things to do!!!

[alwaystraveling25]

Originally Posted by mogo

I kind of feel that, 10 - 15 years ago, RO was what downtown Detroit should have been. A fun place to go morning, noon and night. Now downtown Detroit is a fun place morning, noon and night. Downtown Detroit has a 37% lower crime rate than the national average. And I don't always feel that safe at night in RO with the drunk meatheads running around. I think both places are great, but I prefer the city over the burbs these days.

Great thread to bring back.

You may feel that way, but for my friends and I (people in our Mid 20's, from all over the tri-county area and mostly college-educated) we always stay away from Downtown Detroit for entertainment options (when I am home in Michigan). Downtown Detroit may have a lower crime rate, but the surrounding area definitely is not the same.

It's definitely your own opinion, but leaving a wedding in Grosse Pointe a few weeks ago and taking Cadieux to 94 to get out of the city DEFINITELY reminded me that the city of Detroit is someplace I want to stay far away from. I would take Meatheads over vagrants drinking open bottles of liquor walking down the street (and yes, I saw a group of 3 homeless looking people that night doing just that).

[blondie3043]

I too am moving to that area and have been looking for a nice town to live. Royal Oak to me was a dissapointment regarding apartments. Do not waste your time with Urbane apts they are crappy and $$$$$. I kinda liked ferndale BUT apartments were running $1000+. I am leaning towards living in Canton but I am STILL looking. I will be traveling alot and need to be kinda near the airport in Romulus and near the highend Malls farther north. Good luck in your quest, I have been looking for a couple of weeks and have not been able to find the right spot yet.

[jeanniepep]

I lived in Amber Apts when I lived in Royal Oak, I don't know what they're charging nowadays but they were very nice and the management was great.

There are actually TWO Amber Apt companies, the one I liked was http://www.amberapt.com/ - wood floors, nice layouts, lots of properties to choose from, friendly neighbors, etc. At the time they were one of the less expensive apartment companies too.

The other one is (I think) www.amberapartments.net. I haven't lived there so I can't speak to how they are, I loved the other Amber though.

[kctides]

were you able to find a good realtor who specializes in those locations to show you around and negotiate a deal for you?

[kctides]

I highly suggest having someone show you around in those areas.

[blondie3043]

Originally Posted by bem629

I visited Michigan a week ago and poked around and finally decided on Royal Oak. More walkable than Downtown Detroit, and just felt so alive. Anyone know anything about Urbane Apartments? I think I'm going to be in their downtown building. Looks nice, though you pay a premium ($950 for a studio, though nice).

Do not waste your time on Urbane apartments.......They were creepy and way too expensive for what you got....not my idea of a place I would want to live....

[MisterShunshine]

Originally Posted by mogo

Now downtown Detroit is a fun place morning, noon and night. Downtown Detroit has a 37% lower crime rate than the national average.

What "Downtown Detroit" are you talking about? The little corner outside Comerica Park? The city of Detroit has an astounding crime rate. Forbes magazine recently ranked it the most dangerous city in the US.

I'm also not sure what kind of "fun" anyone is having in Detroit these days. When I drive through that city, fun is the last word I would use to describe the experience.

Detroit is a wasteland, and the decay has also been sprawling across the suburbs for years now.

That's about all anyone needs to say about this place.