Seeking quiet and cute community in the Detroit-area? Please help...?

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Momof2

Belleville (It's close to restaurants in Canton). I lived there about 12 years ago. It's very quiet. http://www.belleville.mi.us/comm/chome.htm

Plymouth does sound like your description except I think it's farther than a 30 minutes drive.

You might want to try downriver like Gibraltar http://www.cityofgibraltar.net/

elizabeth s

I almost hate to tell you this, because we like to keep it quiet, but, Plymouth is the town that you are describing. Good location for a commute to either Detroit or Ann Arbor. Lots of good restaurants, parks, very family oriented. The town itself is cute...arranged around a small central park where there are activities all year 'round. In the summer, there are concerts every Thurs. nite put on by the community band, concerts on Friday nites by local bands, concerts for children on Wed. afternoons. There are festivals celebrating art, fall, and ice. Good schools. Very mid-west. Check it out!

bill s

Before you rule the City out altogether, you need to look at Layfayette Park in the city, just east of downtown.

L.P. is a planned community designed by famed architect Mies Van der Rohe. The community was built over 50 years ago, but has remained a vibrant and interesting neighborhood. The buildings are very modern and reflect the George Jeston style at the time, but they have aged well and since you plan on renting, this is your opportunity.

In two or three years, when little ones start arriving, you can think about moving to a suburb, but right now you guys are young and free and in love; moreover the downtown area is offering a rapidly expanding sellection of fun things to do and see. One new feature is an old train route that has been completely changed into a walking and biking path. From L.P. you could stroll a couple of blocks to the water or to the local Farmer's Market. This walking path is a half block from your front door if you live in L.P.

Tons of professors live there, as does a collection of City Council people and our US Senator, Carl Levin, hence the area gets a lot of police attention. You will have 50 or 60 years to live in a suburb ... take a year and rent in a City, you will look back and love that year; and when you're really old and wrinkled you will tell your great-grandchildren that you were such a bad-*** you lived in Detroit.

So before you move out to a near-in suburb, check out Layfayette Park and Towers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OROh-5c92Ag
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafayette_Park,_Detroit
http://www.trulia.com/MI/Detroit,3845,Lafayette_Park/

Macca â™¥

Have you considered the Grosse Pointe area? There are 5 different cities that make up the Grosse Pointes, G.P Woods, G.P Farms, G.P Park, G.P Shores, G.P City. You can get a nice home in every price range now. The market is flooded with homes offering deep discounts. They all offer excellent public schools, shared libraries, private parks with marinas and lake access, tons of trees, well kept homes. There is nice shopping in The Village. Good restaurants are there, too. It's a 30 min or less drive to WSU. Your hubby can even take the bus to WSU. He can get a Smart bus pass and ride all month for $30. Check it out online. Have fun!

http://www.gpschools.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grosse_Pointe
http://www.grossepointemi.us/page/page/798071.htm
http://www.thevillagegp.com/
http://www.ci.grosse-pointe-farms.mi.us/
http://www.warmemorial.org/
http://www.neighborhoodclub.com/
Homes for sale
http://www.beline.com/

iloveweddings

Hi. You are getting lots of good answers. Really!

Detroit and the surrounding areas have LOTS to offer. I totally agree with Elizabeth S. My sister moved to Plymouth 2 years ago. I have visited her twice in her new home
(I live in Upper Michigan), and it is the cutest city ever!!!

Lots of young families. Lots to do. Lots of green spaces. I would for sure check it out.

From many of the surburbs it is an easy commute down to Wayne State.

Good luck and don't let the bad reputation that Detroit has deter you. There are so many good things about the city!!

DetroiterGuy

Royal Oak or Huntington Woods for sure. Both liberal attitudes. Royal Oak has a downtown area that is filled with EVERYONE on the weekends, but still a quiet peaceful town. Downtown has restaurants, shops, the RO library, and a farmers market. HW is just homes, but just as left-leaning, a real city of trees and next door to RO. Both have great schools too! Commute: Straight down Woodward Ave, our main artery and bisects RO and HW.

Meh, all the cities below are NOT a 30 minute drive. Belleville? That's at least an hour. Milford is way too far away. Anything aong Wooward will take you down to WSU as WSU is right along Woodward. Plymouth is the only thing I agree on, but Royal Oak is an older, established city. Good news though, by the end of 2010 they plan to have a commuter rail between Ann Arbor and Detroit, so when that comes to be, maybe your dream of living there can be reached. Royal Oak is like a mini-AA, but without the lax pot laws.

Me, Myself, and I

I'd go around Woodward in the Royal Oak/Clawson area.

elklady

Consider Milford, Farmington Hills and Northville. All small towns with nice neighborhoods. They have excellent schools districts (important to consider if you are going to have a family) nice downtown areas with shops, restaurants, etc. Small town flavor with cosmopolitan attitude. Good parks, close to lots of sporting activities as well. Lots of year round fun activities for all ages. Close enough to Detroit to enjoy the theater, concerts, museums, nightlife etc. (straight drive down I96: about 25-30 minutes to Wayne State). Far enough away from to enjoy the countryside. All are "quiet" and "cute".

Here are their Chamber of Commerce web sites.
http://www.milford-mi.com
http://www.northville.org
http://ffhchamber.com

The German

I read your description and I would qualify these cities: Plymouth, Livonia, Northville, the Grosse Pointes. Although, you get the liberal attitude in Royal Oak, Ferndale and Berkley, you won't find much room to do anything as the houses are pretty close together. You have to weigh the nightlife vs. the quiet area.

If I was working at Wayne State, I would probably live on the riverfront or downtown somewhere. The activities in the suburbs don't change too often. Downtown Detroit has the arts and liberal attitude and the most to offer you.

You can always follow the leader. First house in Royal Oak, second house in Troy, third house in Rochester Hills..........

Trish D

Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, Birmingham, Pleasant Ridge are all beautiful communities. I live in Royal Oak and commute to my job CCS (art college near Wayne State). There are a few great downtowns (Birmingham and Royal Oak). Royal Oak is more liberal and more cost friendly than Birmingham. You're in luck if you're interested in renting. Because the real estate market is the pits right now, you should be able to find a nice home for rent.
While there are some very nice neighborhoods in Detroit, but I would avoid living in the city at all cost. The taxes are outrageous and there are few people who live in the city who respect its amazing history. Stick to the suburbs for living and visit when you're up for an adventure.
All in all, the Detroit area is a great place to raise a family. The airport is fairly central, you can drive just a couple of hours and find nice hiking/camping. Chicago is just 4.5 hours away and Toronto is about 3.
Good luck to you and your husband.

Damn This Sucks Too

Troy, MI

trillianxo

You really have been getting some good answers here.

I would also suggest:

Ferndale - the houses are older and closer together, but some of the yards are very large. There is also an active restaurant/nightlife.

Pleasant Ridge - close to Ferndale, but more upscale with larger houses and yards.

The Grosse Pointes - you may have to look around. Many of the homes are large with large yards, but there are also areas where the homes are very close together without much outdoor space. They have a small "downtown" area, but you would need to go further north or west for more shopping or restaurant options.

yvette

plymouth or northville for sure!

grundig_photos

move to Ann Arbor, it will be worth it.

Jack H

RUN, don't walk, as far away from Detroit as you can. It has to be the biggest dump of any large metro area in the US.

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