[dcrelocator]

I just got a job near Trenton, MI and my husband and I are planning to stay for at least 5 years and want to buy a house. We've lived in NYC and then DC for about 8 years and just want a nice community to raise kids. An artist flair/vibe would be great too. Any suggestions at all would be great! Thanks.

[downthathighway]

...You will be VERY close to Grosse Ile, that's a very family friendly town/Island.
...Some forum members live there and can fill you in.
...My daughter sold real estate from Wyandotte till last year, her boss' firm had alot of good Grosse Ile listings.
...Wyandotte is very art centered, check out their downtown and the summer art festival. But Wyandotte's housing is mostly clustered into narrow lots, older places, many with no driveways. Probably what you've already seen around NYC.
...Grosse Ile is just 'across the bridge' from Trenton and Wyandotte.

[sugarbeet]

You might enjoy Royal Oak or Ferndale or Ann Arbor, but all of those are quite far from Trenton.

The entire Downriver area is going to feel like a world away from DC or NYC. Think Newark, but safer and smaller towns.

How much of a commute are you willing to endure?

[Coldjensens]

Working in Trenton, you cannot do better than living in Grosse Ile. We searched all of Southeastern Michigan for two years looking for the best place to raise our children and chose Grosse Ile above any other community within 60 miles of the airport.

You would have a ten minute commute at the most. Grosse Ile has excellent schools (unquestionably the best schools in the downriver area), a wonderful environment, very little crime, a close knit community, and right now, incredible bargains on homes. The island is heavily wooded, and has a lot of wildlife (deer, rabbits, swans ducks geese, egrets, hawks, squirrels, more deer, and a few foxes, eagles and, supposedly a coyote or two, . . . . oh and more deer - gardening is possible, but it takes some effort). Hunting is not allowed. The township owns a centennial farm used as a community center and for horse riding lessons, a sledding hill, several soccer fields, about 700 acres of wooded green space, a play center built by residents (playscape), a country club and outdoor pool (pool membership is about $100 for a whole family for the season), a bird sanctuary, several bike trails and a small hobbiest airport. There is also a nature conservancy area that is maintained by a separate community organization. Privately owned facilities that may interest you include an indoor tennis club, three golf/country clubs, three boating/yacht clubs, an alpaca farm, an azeala farm (pleasant to tour), a dance studio, and two day care/pre-school places. There are five churches that work together and sometimes coordinate joint events or service opportunities (look up Grosse Ile Boars head festival - it is every four years, it is really neat). Grosse Ile hosts Kiwanis, Rotary, an Herb Society, the Island beautification Committee, a crew team (and I think there are one or two rowing clubs), an active historical society that owns two buildings, and several other social/service clubs. Grosse Ile has several art stores and a bead jewelry making shop in the tiny business strip. Nearby Wyandotte has a little bit of an artist flair (they have an art fair each summer) and it is right across the bridge from Grosse Ile. residents seem to host a lot of exchange students. the have live music (free) in a small pavillion/park on sunday evenings in the summer. They also have outdoor movies at the high school in the summer. Quite a few cute parades, and almost everyone goes to the high school football games and cheer madly for the Red Devils (although we rarely win).

On the negative side, the town is small. There are two grocery stores, five and a half restaurants, a hardware, a B & B, a bakery, a flower shop, and a several art or craft places, Realtors, and banks. No big box stores and the only doctor is a small urgent care clinic. Most services are available just across one of the bridges. Henry Ford Hospital is about 15 -20 minutes away (although I once got there in about ten minutes with a police escort). Big retail stores and a mall are 4 to 6 miles away. Taxes are higher than in some other areas, but that is almost always the case in areas with great schools. Some of the township government employees can be cantankerous. The police are bored and sometimes get a little carried away (more of an annoyance than a problem unless you are 17 or 18 and cause trouble). The fire department is outstanding, but also usually bored. A portion of the population is retired people (Not a major problem unless you do not like retired people), many of whom go to Florida for the winter (you might miss them). We tend to get some very cold winds off the water in the winter if you are on the waterfront.

If diversity is a big concern, that is a negative, the township is mostly white, however persons of other races do not seem to be uncomfortable here. The majority of the residents are mid to upper middle class with a number of wealthy households. There are some fairly inexpensive residences here and there (i.e. under $250,000), but not a large number. If you are looking for an urban environment, this is not it.

Houses range from huge waterfront mansions on several acres of land to typical neighborhoods and subdivisions. There are a few apartments and condos scattered around, mostly in the business district. The architecture is a wonderful mix of old, very old and modern. Very few cookie cutter subdivisions or McMansions here.
Did I mention that it is an island? (Actually 12-14 islands, but you would never realize that there are more then three or four). Water all around. Fish in you front yard (or a neighbors if you do not have access). Lots of boats, nice views.

I forgot the people. Excellent awesome people! (A few exceptions perhaps, but not many). About 12,000 of them. the township is cigar shaped, about two miles wide at the center and ten miles long, so it is populated, but not crowded. You access the island by either of two bridges. One is free, the other costs $2 round trip (if you have a fast pass, otherwise it is $3 round trip).

Writing this has reminded me how much I love it here.

If you need cheaper housing Trenton itself is not bad. It is a cute small factory town with decent schools. Housing is mostly small and crowded, but considerably less expensive. they have a nice park on the water. Your next best bet is probably Dearborn. Wyandotte is very close and a neat city, but the schools are not optimal. If you really want to commute you could go out as far as Plymouth or Ann arbor. Both meet your criteria of family friendly (Plymouth more than Ann Arbor) and artsy (Ann Arbor more than Plymouth). Your commute from there would be 45 minutes to an hour at least.

[dcrelocator]

Thank you so much for all your help!! I think we may have narrowed it down to Grosse Ile and Wyandotte! Again-thank you I was feeling overwhelmed!