Downtown/Midtown/New Center Apartments (Detroit, Vernon: cul-de-sac, leasing, lofts)

[SupernovaDD]

Hey everybody,

My move to Detroit is coming up (October 1st is my target date) and I am looking at apartments mainly in the midtown area, but will consider New Center if not too far north and of downtown if not too far away from Woodward. So, I am looking at offerings on Craigslist and researching the options I see there. Some of the apartments are getting some bad reviews. Any thoughts on which ones are absolutely awful and to be skipped? There are a few on W. Ferry, Architect and Mt. Vernon Apts are some others.

I know I will end up not having a whole lot of options and will have to go where I can get someone to rent me something, since I won't have a job yet by the time I get there. But any additional info will be helpful in making sure I don't end up sharing the space with roaches and rats.

Thanks!

[belleislerunner]

Most of the "awful" ones are visible from the street and your tour of the facility should show you which ones you think management is neglecting etc. The only people who waste their time writing apartment reviews are people complaining (the good ones are written by the leasing office to counterbalance) - so it wouldn't be worth the time of day to read them. My brother lived on Ferry a couple years back while in college in Midtown and liked it. Best bet is to look up addresses of units - use google maps and "street view" and then see how you feel about the building/block or two around. You can do that from the comfort of your 72 degree living room and not the 100 degree summer heat =)

[SupernovaDD]

thanks. i have been using google street view to get an idea of the neighborhood. it is kind of difficult to see whether there are rats or roaches from the outside. some of the apartments that got bad reviews look decent from the outside and people complained about being shown model apartments and their actual apartments being way less attractive. but definitely, at least the street view will tell you something.

thanks.

[Sasha Eubanks]

I used to live in the New Center Area before moving to the downtown area. Technically, I live on the east side (really close to Eastern Market), but downtown is only a 5 minute drive. I loved the New Center Area - I was right off of the Lodge and close to Woodward. My rent was $625 for a 2 bedroom including heat. The building was quiet and clean. The only downside was parking. There is a lot but its really small so most of the time I parked on the street. I figured out what time parking enforcement came and worked around that as best I could. Honestly, living there for me was great. I lived in a cul-de-sac two blocks from the Fisher Theater.

I think some of the best jewels in the city are those that aren't advertised. I found the apartment by walking the area. I know that the owners of the building I lived in also owned another building on Lothrop. The rent was comparable and the units were really nice.

I don't know what the OPs needs are, but there are also lofts that are really reasonable. Try this link for suggestions: Loft Place - Detroit Lofts.

Good luck!

[SupernovaDD]

Thanks, Sasha. Helpful to get some personal experiences.

[sanari]

Originally Posted by Sasha Eubanks

I don't know what the OPs needs are, but there are also lofts that are really reasonable. Try this link for suggestions: Loft Place - Detroit Lofts.

Good luck!

Thank you for your advice!

[sanari]

All of the lofts mentioned in that link are run by Boydell, and are to be avoided if you want correctly constructed lofts. I take back my thank you, sorry. >.<

[SupernovaDD]

I went to look at the Fisher Kahn apartments today, on Second and Lothrop. Anyone have any thoughts on that area? It's farther out than I wanted to be, but I also want to stay a bit close to Woodward (at least initially). The places closer to midtown seemed really student based. Still looking but just wondering if anyone on here had any thoughts.

[dan77765]

Just a suggestion. Try to find an apartment covered by an agency, and do not look for it on your own. I stayed in Detroit 6 months and I had a very good experience with the people, but not with the owner (and roommate) of the house in which I lived, who was very rude and impolite.

[Sasha Eubanks]

Originally Posted by sanari

All of the lofts mentioned in that link are run by Boydell, and are to be avoided if you want correctly constructed lofts. I take back my thank you, sorry. >.<

What's the deal with Boydell? Please be specific. The lofts on John R appear to be renovations, so its not a new construction.