[Umbryonicstemcell]

My family and I lived in Muskegon Heights in the mid 1980's. It was pleasant enough back then but there were signs of deterioration by the time we moved away. Drug trafficking was becoming more rampant and some members of the Police Department were turning a blind eye. Our neighbor, a major drug dealer, went to prison for murder. Yet some of the finest people I have ever known or worked with were in and from Muskegon Heights.

Blight and home abandonment were becoming prevalent toward 1990. Long established businesses were closing or leaving in droves. The closing of several auto related factories left many people unemployed. When the poverty rate increased, so did the crime rate.

We have driven through it while visiting friends many times since then and it's looking pretty desolate. The area where we enjoyed living is looking quite seedy. To make a long story short, we would never move back to Muskegon Heights.

[Umbryonicstemcell]

Muskegon Heights continued: Unless you were born and raised in Muskegon or Muskegon Heights you were forever an outsider and never quite accepted or trusted. The city reminded me of a dusty old Texas town that was run by the mayor and the sheriff – or in this case, the chief of police – for their own personal benefit or the benefit of their families or close friends. I am specifically NOT referring to the current holders of those positions. I know Mrs. Wilkins and believe her to be honest and upright. I don’t know who the present police chief is.

Racial tensions in “The Gateway to Muskegon” were fairly low key in the mid 80’s but were beginning to tense up by the time we left. This affected us personally when we had a chunk of concrete thrown through our living room window one night.

I have lots of fond memories of Muskegon Heights, but the city I knew no longer exists.

[tuebor]

I've lived in Norton Shores for 6 mos. now, and I like it. I less than 1.5 miles from a Lake Michigan beach that allows dogs, but I paid much less than I would have paid for a similar house in Spring Lake or Grand Haven. I don't think Mona Shores schools (the district for Norton Shores & Roosevelt Park) are any worse than GH or SL schools.

My neighbors mostly keep to themselves, but they'll answer questions if asked. I had lots of trick-or-treaters on Halloween, and I see kids riding their bikes around and walking to school by themselves, so I'm guessing this is a safe place for kids. I've met some very friendly folks through church.

Originally Posted by twill

There is no industry, no entertainment, no culture, hardly any shopping or restaurants and no Great school districts, they're all average.

I'm not sure if this statement refers specifically to Musk. Hts. or to Muskegon county as a whole, but if it was intended to refer to the greater Muskegon area and not just M. Hts., then it does not seem accurate to me. There is still plenty of manufacturing in the area, although I'm told that a paper mill wil be closing soon. There is entertainment and culture. Live music ranges from local and regional bar bands to classical music at the Frauenthal Theater and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. There are a few little museums and lot of summer festivals. Nearby colleges (Muskegon CC, GVSU, etc.) host cultural events, too. For shopping, there's a huge agglomeration of malls and big-box chain stores between Muskegon and GH. And if you can't find what you want in Muskegon, GH and SL are less than 30 min. away, and Grand Rapids is less than an hour away.

I'm not sure what to make of the racial situation in this area. There seems to be a history of residential segregation here, and whites, blacks, and latinos seem to mostly stay in their respective areas. But some establishments do cater to mixed clientele, and people seem to be able to get along in public.

[Umbryonicstemcell]

Originally Posted by Big_D03

Yes there are problems in the city of Muskegon Heights but not nearly as bad as most of you or anyone else thinks. It is always the opinion of "outsiders looking in" and only knowing what they see on occasion or just heard second and third hand. You don't have to ride through Muskegon Heights with you doors locked as someone else stated. Those are the kind of people who make things worst than they are. It not the fault of us in the city of Muskegon Heights that there are no good jobs available; no one likes living in poverty. The statement about having 68 graduates out of 400 is completely wrong. This past year there were over 100 grads. We only have around 600 students in the entire high school, we have never had a senior class of 400. I am a recent grad of Muskegon Heights (c/o 2002) and I have a Bachelor degree. I can tell you over 80% of graduates from Muskegon Heights do go to college and many of them have obtained a degree. Quite of a few of my classmates are in grad school right now.

We all know there are drugs and crime in Muskegon Heights, as well as downtown Muskegon especially and other areas which many people love to deny. There are drugs every where in Muskegon County: Shores, N. Musk, GH, etc. but they are not Muskegon Heights so it is downplayed. When something negative occurs in Muskegon Heights, people love to blow it up, especially the chronicle. There is more gang activity in downtown Muskegon than it is in Muskegon Heights, trust me. I can't deny all rumors because a lot of them are true we know. The new high school is fine (as someone hinted it may not be) but a new facility does not cure the problems with the educational system. Yes, renting out in Muskegon period maybe be a bad idea if you don't have a firm agreement with the tenants as to what you do and don't allow (it's a good idea to have your own personal contract).

Things could be better but they aren't and probably won't be for a long time but don't think there is no good in Muskegon Heights.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’m getting a little tired of all the problems being encountered by Muskegon Heights being attributed to biased coverage by the press in general and the Muskegon Chronicle in particular.

I held a position of public prominence in the city at the time and I was well acquainted with the reporter who covered the Muskegon Heights City news. She is no longer with the Chronicle. The last I heard, she was promoted to a job of higher rank with the Grand Rapids Press. She was an excellent listener and took accurate notes. The editors may have emphasized the more lurid aspects of certain stories but I had never known them to distort or alter the facts. Nor did they fabricate stories in order to defame Muskegon Heights or any other neighborhood or municipality.

The Chronicle didn’t have to rely on sensationalism to “sell newspapers.” At the time, they were the only game in town for local news. If that has changed, I’m unaware of it.

If the crime rates, drug busts, vandalism, car thefts, violence, slum landlords, blight, break-ins, and incidents of arson were reported as being higher in the Heights than in surrounding communities, it was not because the editorial staff or publishers of the Muskegon Chronicle had it in for that city; it was because facts are facts. To blame the shortcomings of a city, its government or its citizens on the local news sources is both cowardly and guaranteed to perpetuate the problem.

[sellis]

Originally Posted by ggg230

A new high school was built in Muskegon Heights in 2002. Highly qualified teachers work there and intelligent students go there. No more fighting or crimes have occured there than in Grand Haven or Spring Lake. Check with the local government for more info.

I'm almost positve that the high school is out of money and is close to bankrupt.

[anniegirl2]

I was a Realtor in the Muskegon County area for several years, until 2001. An investment in Muskegon Heights up until the 1990's would have been a good choice. Since then, the value of housing has continually deteriorated.
There are areas of Muskegon, Norton Shores, North Muskegon, Fruitport and Fruitport Township, and many of the townships in Muskegon County that would have reasonable pricing, that would be a good Income Property or resale investment.

There has been a concerted effort on the part of the Muskegon Heights Governmental Officials to clean up the city and hopefully raise the image of their city, with considerable success. But, from a Real Estate Investor's standpoint, I would not invest in that area at this time..

[mr0801]

Yes. Muskegon Hts is like getto. I stay clear of there.

[Davidmedendorp]

Muskegon has many great areas to invest in.The west side of Muskegon heights is one of my favorites. There are a lot of nice small homes that are affordable to owners and investors but a short walk or drive to Meijers and Walmart and many other conveniences. The price are low for what you get.

[baystater]

Restore the shore - Muskegon Chronicle - MLive.com

Just something I picked up surfing the web today.

[deobloe]

I grew up downtown muskegon and moved to the Hghts where I lived for twelve years. Ive been all over the states and have seen some hard ghettos, but to say that the hights is no ghetto is far from the truth and even though downtown is a little more rough they are both ghetto compared to hollands poorer areas around 16th street and G.R. has alot areas that are ghetto but they dont have areas as large as the Hghts and downtown that are ghetto. Lets get to the truth if were tryin to divide downtown and the hights as two different cities youre kidding yourself its just the tracks that divide them witch makes up for one big ghetto.