"Next" Detroit suburb? (Pontiac, Royal Oak: apartments, rentals, violent crime)

[MetroMetro]

I think the communities that border Ferndale will benefit from the increased housing prices in Ferndale - I was looking for a home in Ferndale for about a year and ended up in Oak Park. I would imagine the story is the same for other young professionals who couldn't keep up with the inflating market.

[NOLA101]

Originally Posted by MetroMetro

I think the communities that border Ferndale will benefit from the increased housing prices in Ferndale - I was looking for a home in Ferndale for about a year and ended up in Oak Park. I would imagine the story is the same for other young professionals who couldn't keep up with the inflating market.

Ferndale doesn't look very different from 20 years ago, and has an affordable market, not an "inflating one". It's the cheapest Woodward corridor city between Detroit and Pontiac.

The main difference is that the schools have gone downhill, so usually people move to other suburbs once their kids reach school age.

Oak Park, excepting the small part that goes to Berkley schools, has never been worse. That community is in serious decline.

[SQL]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

Ferndale doesn't look very different from 20 years ago, and has an affordable market, not an "inflating one". It's the cheapest Woodward corridor city between Detroit and Pontiac.

The main difference is that the schools have gone downhill, so usually people move to other suburbs once their kids reach school age.

Oak Park, excepting the small part that goes to Berkley schools, has never been worse. That community is in serious decline.

I would argue that Ferndale is vastly different (and improved) than it was 20 years ago. The downtown is, IMO, one of the more desirable hangouts for young professionals in suburban Metro Detroit, behind Royal Oak, Birmingham, and perhaps Rochester. The only reason it is more affordable than other suburbs is because it's closest to Detroit's 8 Mile border. And that applies to the housing stock near that area. The prices are surely going up around the 9 Mile and Woodward area.

I never thought twice about going to Ferndale when I was a kid. It was sort of grungy and unappealing. Now it has a decent selection of hangouts including One Eyed Betty's, Rosie O' Grady's, Anita's Kitchen, and Emory. Basically, Ferndale is a hipster's Royal Oak.

[usroute10]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

Ferndale doesn't look very different from 20 years ago, and has an affordable market, not an "inflating one". It's the cheapest Woodward corridor city between Detroit and Pontiac.

The main difference is that the schools have gone downhill, so usually people move to other suburbs once their kids reach school age.

Oak Park, excepting the small part that goes to Berkley schools, has never been worse. That community is in serious decline.

From what I have heard, some of the.hipster families are staying in Ferndale and putting their children in Ferndale Public Schools so it looks like the public school system is at a turning point.

If your claim that Ferndale real estate is the cheapest is accurate, that is probably a reflection of the small, unspectacular houses that comprise most of Ferndale's housing stock. If it had the gorgeous and spacious homes of Detroit's Green Acres neighborhood to the south or Pleasant Ridge to the north, Ferndale would be even more expensive. Plus, isn't Berkley cheaper?

Finally, downtown Ferndale is getting better. Recently an old standalone Pizza Hut on Woodward on the northern edge of the,downtown district was demo'ed, and a street fronting commercial building with parking in back was built. Also it is rumored that a mixed_use condo development is replacing the Save-a-lot grocery store on Nine Mile.

[usroute10]

Originally Posted by SQL

I would argue that Ferndale is vastly different (and improved) than it was 20 years ago. The downtown is, IMO, one of the more desirable hangouts for young professionals in suburban Metro Detroit, behind Royal Oak, Birmingham, and perhaps Rochester. The only reason it is more affordable than other suburbs is because it's closest to Detroit's 8 Mile border. And that applies to the housing stock near that area. The prices are surely going up around the 9 Mile and Woodward area.

I never thought twice about going to Ferndale when I was a kid. It was sort of grungy and unappealing. Now it has a decent selection of hangouts including One Eyed Betty's, Rosie O' Grady's, Anita's Kitchen, and Emory. Basically, Ferndale is a hipster's Royal Oak.

Downtown Plymouth is more of young professional destination than Rochester. Birmingham too

Also there are way more restaurants/bars in Ferndale - the best include Public House, Como's, Local, Howe's Bayou, the Loving Touch, The Fly Trap, Bosco and many others.

[Hans64]

I would bank on the near-in Grosse Pointes (Park, City, Farms away from the wealthiest lake areas) NOT Shores or Woods. Eventually the Midtown/Downtown crowd will have kids and they will not be sending them to DPS for the foreseeable future. They also won't be moving downriver or to Clarkston. GP is the closest suburb with good schools, great housing stock, and the all important proximity to downtown.

[MetroMetro]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

Ferndale doesn't look very different from 20 years ago, and has an affordable market, not an "inflating one". It's the cheapest Woodward corridor city between Detroit and Pontiac.

The main difference is that the schools have gone downhill, so usually people move to other suburbs once their kids reach school age.

Oak Park, excepting the small part that goes to Berkley schools, has never been worse. That community is in serious decline.

What makes you think it's never been worse? The house I bought, near 9 & Coolidge, was listed for 48 hours before receiving multiple offers.

Also, I think the recent votes to end the 60ish years of prohibition of alcohol in restaurants will help bring in restaurants and further investment into the city. See: Vinsetta Garage owners planning to convert the old WWJ building on 8 near Coolidge into a restaurant.

[Ummagumma]

Originally Posted by usroute10

Hamtramck has a ways to go. Its very intact downtown business strip is half vacant and most of the buildings are raggedy. Also, it's current population of 22,000 is far less than its peak population of 52,000 in 1930, so it has the potential to be even more densely populated.


IMHO, Dearborn has some pretty impressive housing stock

downtown West Dearborn

Henry Ford Homes Historic District

The Aviation Subdivision 1

The Aviation Subdivision 2

Michigan Ave/Telegraph


Cherry Hill Outer Drive

Hamtramck is a little Yemen nowadays, it has ways to go before it becomes "cool and hip". Many of the people who made first the Royal Oak and then the Ferndale cool and hip were gay, lesbian, or otherwise "alternative" and I just can't see them moving to the present day Hamtramck or Dearborn with their heavy presence of fresh-off-the-boat Muslim immigrants.

Pontiac had promise but it also has major problems with gangs and blight that neither RO nor Ferndale ever had.

Oak Park does not have anything resembling a downtown, it's plain boring. I just can't see Greenfield and 11 mile becoming hip.

Perhaps Huntington Woods could expand, the area near 9 mile and Coolige is not far and could be made into a downtown of sorts.

I believe the next hot place is Detroit.

[MetroMetro]

Originally Posted by Ummagumma

Hamtramck is a little Yemen nowadays, it has ways to go before it becomes "cool and hip". Many of the people who made first the Royal Oak and then the Ferndale cool and hip were gay, lesbian, or otherwise "alternative" and I just can't see them moving to the present day Hamtramck or Dearborn with their heavy presence of fresh-off-the-boat Muslim immigrants.

Pontiac had promise but it also has major problems with gangs and blight that neither RO nor Ferndale ever had.

Oak Park does not have anything resembling a downtown, it's plain boring. I just can't see Greenfield and 11 mile becoming hip.

Perhaps Huntington Woods could expand, the area near 9 mile and Coolige is not far and could be made into a downtown of sorts.

I believe the next hot place is Detroit.

9 Mile and Coolidge is Oak Park, FYI.

[brodie734]

Midtown is overpriced for what you are getting and can no longer really live up to it's "New Brooklyn (TM)" reputation. That will be Hamtramck's ticket to gentrification, IMO. There is functionally no difference between Hamtramck and any city neighborhood.