Grand Rapids: bad areas? (Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo: for sale, home, neighborhoods)

[windfarmer]

THanks guys! What about Cherry Hill? That's so small on the map but I've seen quite a few very nice homes there. Is it considered historic like Heritage Hill is?

[grlnmu]

Hi, I'm new on here, but lived in Grand Rapids for 7 years. You have to be pretty careful in Grand Rapids for areas to move, You can have a really nice street and 2 blocks away be in a very bad area. Plus schools in Grand Rapids city are pretty bad. If you don't mind a little of a commute about 30 minutes(are you working in the city?), I would look at the Rockford area, which is a little north, or the Kentwood area, which is a little south. Just some suggestions.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by windfarmer

THanks guys! What about Cherry Hill? That's so small on the map but I've seen quite a few very nice homes there. Is it considered historic like Heritage Hill is?

Yes, much of Cherry Hill is now considered an historic district. Some beautiful homes (a lot of maintenance and high standards for any kinds of renovations).

But in regard to the previous post, that's any city where you'll have good areas bordered by bad areas. It's called "life".

[cooleylawstudent]

Hi~
I would am going to be an incoming law student at Cooley in Grand Rapids. I recently checked out at appartment at the corner of Market and Commerce called Loose Leaf Lofts, which is 2 blocks away from the law school. The appartments were great and brand new but when I asked if it was a bad area everyone replied that it was "getting better and make sure that you walk with someone at night. I was wondering if I should try and find something in a better part of town or if the current appartment would be fine. I was never around there during the night, however during the day there was a lot of construction but it looked fairly ok. Any help with this would be appreciated. Thanks!!

[magellan]

Originally Posted by cooleylawstudent

Hi~
I would am going to be an incoming law student at Cooley in Grand Rapids. I recently checked out at appartment at the corner of Market and Commerce called Loose Leaf Lofts, which is 2 blocks away from the law school. The appartments were great and brand new but when I asked if it was a bad area everyone replied that it was "getting better and make sure that you walk with someone at night. I was wondering if I should try and find something in a better part of town or if the current appartment would be fine. I was never around there during the night, however during the day there was a lot of construction but it looked fairly ok. Any help with this would be appreciated. Thanks!!

Yes, it's OK. It's not so much crime in that particular area but the proliferation of homeless people from the many missions on S. Division a couple of streets to the East. Some of them are a bit "unpredictable". I wouldn't walk alone in any city at night personally. But that area around Cooley is rapidly changing and becoming more vibrant, so there always seems to be people out and about. There are also two new apartment projects in the works for Commerce Ave closer to Fulton, but I don't think they will be finished for a few years.

[actinic]

Still a work in progess but nevertheless illustrative to the type of crime going on. Give it a few seconds to load ...

Grand Rapids Crime Map - Showing Crime in Grand Rapids, MI - Crime Statistics - Crime Alerts - Crime Stops Here

[windfarmer]

Thanks Actinic, for it's size Grand Rapids does not appear to have very much crime. In the first few days after I moved here, I felt mildly apprehensive. Those feelings have certainly been pacified since then.. Overall, I find GR residents to be incredibly welcoming, orderly, polite, respectful towards one another, and much happier in general compared to where I moved from. I don't know if it's the weather, because when I came here last winter, I found the same to be true. Living on this side of the state makes you appreciate Michigan on a whole new level. It's truly a very GOOD part of the state. I can't imagine moving back.

[tootsie54]

We may be moving to the grand rapids area soon and would like to know what is the best area outside of the city east to buy a house. We are looking for something with at least 5 acres for our dogs. Thanks

[GMonkey]

Originally Posted by tootsie54

We may be moving to the grand rapids area soon and would like to know what is the best area outside of the city east to buy a house. We are looking for something with at least 5 acres for our dogs. Thanks

It depends on what you can afford. Ada and Lowell are nice. They were rural, but developing rapidly. There may be some parts available.

[G-rap]

To the cooley student-walking distance to school may well trump any other consideration. Downtown parking can be a nightmare. Crime in GR is really quite minimal. As a relatively young male, I would walk alone in that area at night in any spot where there is something to do at night (and there are numerous bars and restaurants there). The darkened streets heading south or east would be a no-no at night, but if you don't need a 20rock why would you? GR is changing so rapidly and for the better that any neighborhood bears personal inspection. Large parts of the SE that 10 years ago I would have totally written off as places to live, or even get out of the car, are now becoming well mixed (in terms of race and economic status) and relatively harmonious. All this with a tanking economy. If the economy ever turns, GR will be as close to paradise as you can get in a city this size.