is Southfield that bad? (Detroit, Dearborn: sales, insurance, crime)

[Tex?Il?]

Is it?

I'm from the Chicago area, but I've been in the metro Detroit area a few times over the past ten years, and I'm just curious about Southfield.

Most people on this forum seem to agree that Southfield is not that great. But from what I recall passing through there this past summer, I thought the housing stock for what I saw at least seemed nicer than Dearborn, which most people really say great things about. (Of course Dearborn has HF/GV which makes it great).

Is there something I'm just ignorant of? Its the biggest suburban business center in the region, and the houses looked nice. I know the town is over 50% African American. Is there a segregation factor here? I don't mean that in a condescending way, because Chicago has its segregation issues to.

Whats up?

[zakian]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

Is it?

I'm from the Chicago area, but I've been in the metro Detroit area a few times over the past ten years, and I'm just curious about Southfield.

Most people on this forum seem to agree that Southfield is not that great. But from what I recall passing through there this past summer, I thought the housing stock for what I saw at least seemed nicer than Dearborn, which most people really say great things about. (Of course Dearborn has HF/GV which makes it great).

Is there something I'm just ignorant of? Its the biggest suburban business center in the region, and the houses looked nice. I know the town is over 50% African American. Is there a segregation factor here? I don't mean that in a condescending way, because Chicago has its segregation issues to.

Whats up?

I remember when S'field was "upper class." I was in my 20's. Now it's average.Same with Canton. My daughter from my ex said,"you have to be rich to live in Canton.That was her "impression." I sold R E there when they were building it. My 2nd wife insisted we live there Bunch of junk. I'd take S'field.Canton STILL doesn't have a school system. Relies on Plymouth.

[exit18b]

Southfiled has alot to offer. Great Library, Parks and Rec, shopping and you can get to anywhere quick. The schools are average. However, the n/e corner of the city attends Birmingham schools. I lived in the Cranbrook neighborhood for 5 years and loved it. The current housing crissis has hit Southfield very, very hard. There are new houses behind the old Farmer Jack on Southfield Rd that were selling for $300K to $400K. I think the schools are the biggest draw back to Southfield. Overall, crime is not an issue. The areas around 8 mile do need some improvements.

[delayed]

Um. Actually, crime is an issue in Southfield. No it doesn't have the murder rate of Detroit but theft and break ins are common. 20 years ago Southfield was nice, now its full of trash. I know someone's going to jump in and call me all sorts of names because I said it's full of trash but it's true. Just because you accidentally threw your nice watch in a dumpster doesn't mean it's not still full of trash. I associate du-rags, sagging pants, banging car stereos, and rap music with trash...so, in my opinion, Southfield has fallen well behind in qualities I look for in cities I consider living in.

Oh, and where exactly is the "great parks and rec"? I would need to be forced to live in this city, and if I was I'd at least choose the 13 & Southfield area so at least my kids could go to Birmingham Groves High School.

[drummm41]

The closer to 8 mile, the worse it is. I agree with delayed. I would never live in Southfield.

[Northsider 248]

There are certain places in Southfield that are nice. I particularly enjoy the town center. The area near Lathrup Village is nice too. While plenty of places in Metro Detroit prove that gateway communities aren't thriving ghettos, the southernmost section of Southfield, ESPECIALLY by Oak Park, proves that in some places along 8 Mile, the stereotype is true.

[Trump]

I lived in Southfield during my childhood before the city was incorporated. Most of the area was rural and was part of Birmingham Township. We left over 30 years ago. I was amazed while surfing the Zillow website recently to see some the drastic cuts in home values. A number of homes in one subdivision had sales about 6 years ago in the mid to high $200ks but are being sold today for $30k - $40k. What's going on there to bring down home values this far?

[trudawg]

Originally Posted by delayed

Um. Actually, crime is an issue in Southfield. No it doesn't have the murder rate of Detroit but theft and break ins are common. 20 years ago Southfield was nice, now its full of trash. I know someone's going to jump in and call me all sorts of names because I said it's full of trash but it's true. Just because you accidentally threw your nice watch in a dumpster doesn't mean it's not still full of trash. I associate du-rags, sagging pants, banging car stereos, and rap music with trash...so, in my opinion, Southfield has fallen well behind in qualities I look for in cities I consider living in.

Oh, and where exactly is the "great parks and rec"? I would need to be forced to live in this city, and if I was I'd at least choose the 13 & Southfield area so at least my kids could go to Birmingham Groves High School.

So if I listen to rap music, and my pants sag then I'm trash? LoL, never ceases to amaze me.

[edub]

Southfield is a middle class black community. Last I was there, the houses all seemed very well kept up. I was able to have a few drinks at the TGI Friday at 12 & Evergreen and not feel particularly unsafe.

My impression was that these were mostly middle class people with decent jobs with a few thug types here and there. But all in all, a decent crowd.

If you are black it's probably a great town. But if not you might feel a bit uncomfortable.

[us66]

The housing market has collapsed in Southfield. Those lovely 60s customs sell for pocket change, comparatively speaking, now in many cases. A lot of them are run down compared to comps in other areas and need serious work, though. Homeowner's insurance and property taxes are high, location convenient to nearly all the metro area. The vast majority of it doesn't have the ghetto vibe of Detroit, most of Oak Park, or Inkster, unless you look a bit closer. The main vibe I get driving through the city is, "This was the place to be forty years ago."