Where the Arabs at?! (Detroit, Warren: real estate, apartment, to rent)

[Coffeeholical]

Hello all-

Brand new member here. Thanks in advance for your help- I've lurked the Detroit forum for some time and have enjoyed the community. There's no doubt you'll have the knowledge to help me.

I recently secured a job in the Dearborn area and will be moving up from KY this Fall/Winter. I have visited the city a couple times and love it, despite its issues. Becoming part of the city is exciting for me.

My question is in regard to the sizable Arab population in Detroit. I have seen the Warren area and streets with Arabic signs, families, etc., but lack a good sense of where they are typically clustered (Hamtramck too?). I'd like to rent an apartment in such an area, as I have spent a good deal of time in the Middle East and am somewhat conversational in Arabic. It'd be cool to practice my language skills and enjoy their culture- something that I fell in love with a long time ago.

What streets or neighborhoods should I prowl for places to live? Are there neighborhoods known for housing a lot Arab families, perhaps that have generated a local community?

Thanks for the help guys

[beachmouse]

Dearborn is the core of the Arab/Muslim population in metro Detroit, so you might as well live close to work in that regard.

[animatedmartian]

The west side of Sterling Heights has a lot of Chaldeans (Christian Iraqis). Most likely, you'll see a number of them at either Somerset or Oakland Mall. Outside of those places, I don't really know where they congregate other than in Chaldean churches.

[Coldjensens]

Dearborn has the largest concentration of people from the Middle East anywhere except the middle east. That is where we go for Middle eastern food. That is what the area is known for.

[canudigit]

Generally, the farther east you go in Dearborn, the greater the Arab influence. Areas such as Michigan and Schaefer are very predominately Arab, while areas such as Michigan and Telegraph are not nearly as immersed in the Arab culture.

I have a friend whose elderly mother has lived in Dearborn for most of her life, and in her neighborhood near Ford and Schaefer she is one of the very few non-Arabs left in that area.

[jackmichigan]

As has been pointed out, east Dearborn (east of Southfield Freeway) is predominantly Arabic, with the Warren Road area - Schaefer Rd to Wyoming especially - having the biggest concentration of restaurants, although they are in other places, too. Southeast Dearborn was historically the place where early Arabic immigrants settled, so that area is worth checking out. As the Arabic population in Dearborn has expanded, many have moved into neighboring parts of Detroit. There have also been significant clusters (e.g. Chaldeans near Woodward Ave. and 6 & 7 Mile Roads in Detroit) in the Detroit area, however many have since moved into a number of the suburbs as many businesses have been established, particularly convenience stores and gas stations. Have fun checking the area out. Be advised, however, that if you try to find housing through a real estate agent, they can't legally discuss these types of racial issues with you.

[Coffeeholical]

Thanks guys! This has helped a lot.

Sounds like East of Southfiled Freeway and around Michigan/Warren rd is a good bet. I'll look around Ford rd too, but it seems there aren't as many up in Sterling Heights area. Interesting point about the real estate agents jackmichigan. You all have given me enough info so I can poke around properly and ask people if needed.

[jackmichigan]

You're welcome. And when you're in the area, make sure to try out the Cedarland restaurant on Warren Avenue, east of Schaefer. It's one of my favorites.

[Coffeeholical]

Will do! Thanks for the recommendation.

[usroute10]

I would also suggest a place that you mentioned in your first post - Hamtramck. It has alot of of Arab-speaking people, as well as people from other parts of the world. But Hamtramck is not for the faint of heart, if you don't want to deal with an urban environment, then Dearborn is for you! Dearborn Heights and the Detroit neighborhoods bordering Dearborn, such as Warrendale, also have a large number of Arabs.