Planning a move to the Cadillac area (Detroit, Grand Rapids: crime, home)

[Nordic Woman]

Recent retiree wishing to escape the Georgia heat. Someone from my church mentioned the Cadillac, Michigan area, where they have camped in the past, as being beautiful.

I am looking for someplace quiet, with enough amenities so I don't have to drive an hour to shop. Catholic Church proximity would be great, sidewalks for the dog-walking, older home in the city limits.

I guess that crime has touched virtually every city and town in the US by now, but I just need some information in order to make this decision. I've read about meth production and the associated crime and that is something I'd like to know about and avoid if possible. Any help would be appreciated.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Nordic Woman

Recent retiree wishing to escape the Georgia heat. Someone from my church mentioned the Cadillac, Michigan area, where they have camped in the past, as being beautiful.

I am looking for someplace quiet, with enough amenities so I don't have to drive an hour to shop. Catholic Church proximity would be great, sidewalks for the dog-walking, older home in the city limits.

I guess that crime has touched virtually every city and town in the US by now, but I just need some information in order to make this decision. I've read about meth production and the associated crime and that is something I'd like to know about and avoid if possible. Any help would be appreciated.

Downtown Cadillac struggled for a while there after they put in the US 131 bypass that made it easier for people to get up north, but I think the downtown has taken off quite a bit lately. The downtown is also right on a lake with a park bordering it. There's even an old movie theater downtown that still shows first-run movies.

Here's a google streetview image:
https://goo.gl/maps/m6FD3MhTJu12

You go North of downtown and there's plenty of retail including a JCPenney, Meijer (our Midwest regional superstore/grocery store like a SuperTarget), Walmart and TJMaxx on Boon Road. Bigger shopping you can always go to Traverse City or Grand Rapids.

A quick google search shows St Ann's Catholic Church just North of town.

If you can afford to keep a place in Georgia for the winters and summer up here like a lot of snowbirds do from April - October, that would be the perfect dream for me for retirement.

[michigan83]

Your church friend was correct... Cadillac is located in a beautiful area. It does get quite a bit of snow in the winter, due to lake effect snow and a higher elevation than most of the state. I think the snow is beautiful too, but it may be an adjustment for you. Random crime is not likely to be an issue.

[Nordic Woman]

Thank you both very much for the reply. I have visited MI many times over the past 15 years that my daughter has lived there. She went to college in MI and met and married a local, stayed on, and now I'm finally in a position to move up there and be near family.

I'm willing to deal with snow just to be able to get away from this unbearable heat. I figure that if the power goes out, and I have a basement where I can store necessities, I can always bundle up and wait it out. Here, where 100-degree days with 80% humidity are a more-and-more typical occurrence, being without AC for even one summer day is unthinkable. Heat can be a killer, especially when you're older and your body can't adjust to it. I'd much rather be wearing 4 layers of clothing and huddled up next to a hot water bottle than being roasted alive.

And I think only Flint or Detroit could top us (here in my city) when it comes to crime. It is through the roof here.