Race Relations in the Pointes?? (Detroit, Southfield: cul-de-sac, crime, houses)

[rmsi]

My wife and I are considering moving to the midwest (back to the midwest for her), and we are looking at metro Detroit, as her father lives in Southfield and her sister is in Redford. We want to be close enough, but not too close to them.

Looking at the Pointes, as I most likely would be looking to work at Selfridge (we are both Social Workers by trade)...

The rub is that I am white, she is black... we have two children, a boy and a girl... how are race relations there? How are interracial families regarded?

[danwilsonbsee]

Having grown up in the Farms - I would think you'd have no issues in this regard. Populations on the east side have been shifting over the last 30 years and inter-race relations no longer carries the stigma it once held. GP in 2010 is not the GP from 1960 and as long as you're a good neighbor you'll find the Pointes full of other good neighbors like yourself. I used to live in the cabbage patch for a while and the couple next door was a black girl and white guy. We got along brilliantly since they were nice and courteous etc. The white couple on the other side were jerks and I hated them. Long story short: keep a clean house, be nice, contribute to the expanding diversity in the area and I think you'd be just fine.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by rmsi

My wife and I are considering moving to the midwest (back to the midwest for her), and we are looking at metro Detroit, as her father lives in Southfield and her sister is in Redford. We want to be close enough, but not too close to them.

Looking at the Pointes, as I most likely would be looking to work at Selfridge (we are both Social Workers by trade)...

The rub is that I am white, she is black... we have two children, a boy and a girl... how are race relations there? How are interracial families regarded?

You might like Royal Oak or Ferndale better as that area seems to be a bit more "open minded"/"liberal". Harper Woods might be good, as it is a bit more diverse and some parts are in the Grosse Point School District.

Mount Clemens and St. Clair shores might be a good choices too.

[rmsi]

Thanks for the responses so far... I had originally liked what I found in Palmer Woods as far as the houses, but the Pointes seem to offer a lot as far as 1) public schools, 2) the private parks, 3) the kind of houses we really like, and also 4) a sense of being able to let your kids ride bikes and walk close places...

Just from looking on realtor.com, it looks like I'd like to be in GP Park, but closer to the Lake (i.e. significant distance from Mack)...

Coming from Scottsdale, it seems that the Pointes offer houses like Palmer Woods but with public schools like Scottsdale...

@ckh: Do you know if those other cities offer the same as far as schools, sense of neighborhood, and security? My sister in law actually graduated from Royal Oak HS a couple of years ago, IIRC... I will definitely look at Harper Woods as well, as the schools are a big part of the draw to GP. Thanks!

[scolls]

Originally Posted by rmsi

Thanks for the responses so far... I had originally liked what I found in Palmer Woods as far as the houses, but the Pointes seem to offer a lot as far as 1) public schools, 2) the private parks, 3) the kind of houses we really like, and also 4) a sense of being able to let your kids ride bikes and walk close places...

Just from looking on realtor.com, it looks like I'd like to be in GP Park, but closer to the Lake (i.e. significant distance from Mack)...

Coming from Scottsdale, it seems that the Pointes offer houses like Palmer Woods but with public schools like Scottsdale...

@ckh: Do you know if those other cities offer the same as far as schools, sense of neighborhood, and security? My sister in law actually graduated from Royal Oak HS a couple of years ago, IIRC... I will definitely look at Harper Woods as well, as the schools are a big part of the draw to GP. Thanks!

Harper Woods is much more accepting of multi racial couples than the pointes. I'm white and my fiance is mixed and we live on the east side of Harper Woods in the Grosse Pointe school district. The neighborhood is well kept and looks just like Grosse Pointe Woods. Without any sign, you don't even know when you cross the border. The bonus to living in Harper Woods is homes are cheaper because the address doesn't have Grosse Pointe in it, and taxes are a little cheaper. The disadvantage is people look down upon you.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by scolls

Harper Woods is much more accepting of multi racial couples than the pointes. I'm white and my fiance is mixed and we live on the east side of Harper Woods in the Grosse Pointe school district. The neighborhood is well kept and looks just like Grosse Pointe Woods. Without any sign, you don't even know when you cross the border. The bonus to living in Harper Woods is homes are cheaper because the address doesn't have Grosse Pointe in it, and taxes are a little cheaper. The disadvantage is people look down upon you.

Pretty much the reasons why I thought about Harper Woods. Except for the last sentence, of course.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Pretty much the reasons why I thought about Harper Woods. Except for the last sentence, of course.

The last sentence is true though. You don't have the same status attached to your name if you don't have Grosse Pointe in your address. I'm very surprised Harper Woods turned down the opportunity to change their name to Grosse Pointe Heights.

[Remisc]

Originally Posted by scolls

The last sentence is true though. You don't have the same status attached to your name if you don't have Grosse Pointe in your address. I'm very surprised Harper Woods turned down the opportunity to change their name to Grosse Pointe Heights.

They can call it whatever they want. It would still probably look the same. There's different status levels throughout the Pointes. For example, Grosse Pointe Woods residents are looked down upon by residents of Grosse Pointe Park. Putting 'Grosse Pointe' in the name won't change the quality of life in the city.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by Remisc

They can call it whatever they want. It would still probably look the same. There's different status levels throughout the Pointes. For example, Grosse Pointe Woods residents are looked down upon by residents of Grosse Pointe Park. Putting 'Grosse Pointe' in the name won't change the quality of life in the city.

It'll change the outsiders perceived status of Harper Woods. Are you insinuating there is something wrong with the quality of life in Harper Woods? I chose Harper Woods over Grosse Pointe Woods for the quality of life. Same house, same neighborhood, same schools, just a quarter of the price. If my house was about 20 houses down the street it would've cost at least 50k more. I essentially get the Grosse Pointe lifestyle for a quarter of the cost. The only cost is people will call me an undesirable population or degenerate.

[behindenemylines]

Yeah, whats wrong with the quality of life in Harper Woods?

Harper Woods considers cul-de-sacs to cut crime | freep.com | Detroit Free Press (http://www.freep.com/article/20100214/NEWS02/2140471/1320/Harper-Woods-considers-cul-de-sacs-to-cut-crime - broken link)