Is Royal Oak changing? (Detroit, Troy: real estate, apartments, renting)

[Coldjensens]

I was at a party last night with a lot of real estate investor/developer types. IN our discussion of how much Detroit is improving, it was mentioned that as downtown and midtown become the cool place to be for younger residents, Royal Oak is losing its throne as the post college night life mecca. A Royal oak bar tender and a bar owner both said Royal oak is already starting to feel the pinch of competition. Someone else said at the same time the City is trying to change its image and recapture a reputation as a place for families. No one else knew anything about an effort by the city to try to become more family oriented and less night club/bar oriented. I am curious. Does anyone know? Is Royal Oak making a push to move back towards more of a family oriented location as competition for light life increases in Detroit? IF so what are they doing?

[Almont1]

I think Royal Oak will be fine, but it's probably true it now has more competition. Downtown has more bars and nightlife, and actually Birmingham does too now.

So Royal Oak is feeling it from both Downtown and Birmingham, and it's maybe a bit at a competitive disadvantage. Birmingham is Snobbyville, but it has free parking, a nicer downtown, and much better restaurants. Downtown is a real urban center, something which Royal Oak really isn't.

I will say that Royal Oak may have problems becoming a "family oriented" town again after striving to be post-collegiate fratville for so many years. The schools have declined somewhat, and are no more than "ok". Why send your kids to an "ok" school district when there are so many excellent options in Metro Detroit, for the same price or less than Royal Oak?

[gameguy56]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

I was at a party last night with a lot of real estate investor/developer types. IN our discussion of how much Detroit is improving, it was mentioned that as downtown and midtown become the cool place to be for younger residents, Royal Oak is losing its throne as the post college night life mecca. A Royal oak bar tender and a bar owner both said Royal oak is already starting to feel the pinch of competition. Someone else said at the same time the City is trying to change its image and recapture a reputation as a place for families. No one else knew anything about an effort by the city to try to become more family oriented and less night club/bar oriented. I am curious. Does anyone know? Is Royal Oak making a push to move back towards more of a family oriented location as competition for light life increases in Detroit? IF so what are they doing?

Royal Oak doesn't really have that je ne sais quois that downtown/midtown has. It's a little more pedestrian, 'safer'. Kids these days like a little grit and grime.

[gameguy56]

Originally Posted by Almont1

I will say that Royal Oak may have problems becoming a "family oriented" town again after striving to be post-collegiate fratville for so many years. The schools have declined somewhat, and are no more than "ok". Why send your kids to an "ok" school district when there are so many excellent options in Metro Detroit, for the same price or less than Royal Oak?

Some parents are inclined to believe that there is real value to a child growing up in a walkable community. I am of that mindset too. I imagine though that parents are probably going to look towards Birmingham/Berkley/Huntington Woods first before they look at RO, but I think RO (as long as you're a bit outside the downtown) is a pretty good contender in that market.

What are your other options for walkable + safe + decent schools in the Detroit area? The Grosse Pointes are a great option for downtown workers but if you're working out in Troy or Auburn Hills that commute would take a toll on you. Plymouth, Northville, and Farmington are nice but they are small by comparison.

[Almont1]

Originally Posted by gameguy56

Some parents are inclined to believe that there is real value to a child growing up in a walkable community. I am of that mindset too. I imagine though that parents are probably going to look towards Birmingham/Berkley/Huntington Woods first before they look at RO, but I think RO (as long as you're a bit outside the downtown) is a pretty good contender in that market.

I suppose, but you would choose a worse school district just because there are more sidewalks?

I mean, I see what you're saying (Royal Oak is mostly walkable and Novi, for example, mostly isn't), but your kids probably aren't going to be walking all over the place in either community, and in any case, there are plenty of parks, bike trails and what-not in the sprawly areas too. And even a place like Royal Oak isn't really hard-core walkable (like Brooklyn or Europe or something). You still need cars for everything.

But, you're right, if you want to be in a walkable community, with kids, on that Woodward stretch, then Royal Oak is a relatively affordable option. Ferndale has terrible schools, so no, and Birmingham is too expensive. Berkley is pretty affordable, but Huntington Woods and Pleasant Ridge aren't.

[gameguy56]

Originally Posted by Almont1

I suppose, but you would choose a worse school district just because there are more sidewalks?

I mean, I see what you're saying (Royal Oak is mostly walkable and Novi, for example, mostly isn't), but your kids probably aren't going to be walking all over the place in either community, and in any case, there are plenty of parks, bike trails and what-not in the sprawly areas too. And even a place like Royal Oak isn't really hard-core walkable (like Brooklyn or Europe or something). You still need cars for everything.

But, you're right, if you want to be in a walkable community, with kids, on that Woodward stretch, then Royal Oak is a relatively affordable option. Ferndale has terrible schools, so no, and Birmingham is too expensive. Berkley is pretty affordable, but Huntington Woods and Pleasant Ridge aren't.

My wife came from a not so great school district. I came from a very highly ranked one. In the end I think we both agreed that parenting makes the lions share of the difference in academic success, as long as the school is not absolutely terrible.

Pleasant Ridge is actually Ferndale Schools but I imagine that the people living in those $800k+ homes are probably sending their children to private school.

[belleislerunner]

New bar opening up in Royal Oak next Thursday - right next to the Emagine Theatre at 11/Woodward. This space has been vacant for years - so glad to finally see some infill - with outdoor seating. City Approves Second Sidewalk Cafe for Hamlin Corner - Royal Oak, MI Patch

[animatedmartian]

I would think if more jobs move to downtown Detroit and more apartments and residential towers are built, demand for a similar urban settings in RO will slag a bit. I wouldn't expect it to go away completely and RO stops seeing urban style development, but it's unlikely that something as large as the Fifth might be built anytime soon unless the whole region is filled with high demand.

[jonnynonos]

Royal Oak is much more yuppified nowthan it was 10 years ago.

In terms of nightlife it was always just OK anyway. I guess there were some popular places but it was all kinda low rent.

I think Ferndale was actually cooler even back then.

No disrespect to Woody's.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Almont1

The schools have declined somewhat, and are no more than "ok".

Declined ... or in some cases ... vanished!