The Eye
Houses thick as a brick
The occupations of homeowners in The Eye may be more varied than they were 40 years ago, but the houses themselves are still solidly made and budget friendly. From ranches to Tudors, Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals, brick is a material frequently seen in The Eye. Vinyl-sided bungalows and ranches also abound. Homes in the neighborhood have sold between $46,000-175,000, though many simply have not hit the market. “There are a handful of people from the old days and a lot of newer residents,” says Valerie Olander, who grew up in The Eye and owns Duffy’s Den bar and restaurant. “It’s a good diversity of people – old-timers and newbies.”
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Home to Detroit-famous burgers
Olander’s dad, Red Olander, bought Duffy’s Den in 1983 after retiring from his role as a Detroit deputy fire chief. It remains a major social hub for this predominantly residential neighborhood. Duffy's hamburgers are perhaps the most famous feature of The Eye – its exterior wall claims to have “The Best Burger in Town,” and no one is suing for false advertising. “We’ve been on TV shows,” Olander says. “We get people who come from all over for the burgers. A lot of times, they moved out of the area and come back for a burger when they visit.” For grocery options, residents can go to an Aldi or Spartan Market in neighboring Redford Township, or Darou Salam African Market on Seven Mile Road in Detroit.
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An unlikely celebration of The Bambino
Detroit’s St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place 15 miles away in Corktown, but residents of The Eye can get there on a bus from Duffy’s Den every year. The bar also hosts one of the most unusual events in Detroit – the Babe Ruth Birthday Bash. Though Ruth has no connection to Detroit other than supplanting Tigers legend Ty Cobb as baseball’s biggest star in the 1920s, the event has taken place for 30 years on the Saturday closest to Ruth’s Feb. 6 birthday. More than 200 enthusiasts of The Sultan of Swat attend the party annually. “The people that put it together redecorate the bar with posters of Babe Ruth, hang streamers with Baby Ruth bars from the ceiling. There’s balloons everywhere,” Olander says. “We supply the Coney dogs.” Ruth himself would surely approve.Multiple choices available for neighborhood
Residents of The Eye have multiple schools to choose from. Emerson Elementary-Middle School and Henry Ford High, both of which receive C-minus ratings on Niche, are the nearest Detroit Public Schools. Charles Wright Academy of Arts and Science, a DPS magnet school with a B-rating, is even closer to The Eye. Mason-Carver Academy, a C-rated K-8 charter school, and Communications and Arts High, a C-rated magnet school, are also minutes from the neighborhood.
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Revamped recreation
Lodge Elementary, the DPS school which once served The Eye, closed in 2010. For more than a decade, the building was a sad reminder of what was in the neighborhood’s Edward G. Heckel Park. But in 2023, Heckel Park underwent a $750,000 renovation that give it a playground, basketball court, softball field, horseshoe pits, volleyball court, fitness equipment, and long-awaited picnic tables and trash bins. Olander credits the Mortenson Grand River Homeowners Association’s advocacy with the city for the renovations. “It's amazing. We played softball there in the ‘70s, and boy, I wish they had picked the park up back then,” she says. “Because it's really nice.”
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Streets where speeders beware
The Eye keeps a close watch on speeders, too. Speed bumps are present throughout the neighborhood’s residential streets. The Eye is somewhat walker friendly, with a walk score of 56/100. Interstate 96 is 3 miles away, and DDOT buses run along Grand River Avenue and Telegraph Road.
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Written By
Alex Hickey
Photography Contributed By
Paul Vilela
Video By
Sara Warthen
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Dominick Procopio
Dominick Procopio
RE/MAX First
(586) 474-4798
48 Total Sales
1 in The Eye
$80,000 Price
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John Collins
John Collins
Century 21 Curran & Oberski
(248) 949-1475
144 Total Sales
1 in The Eye
$91,000 Price
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Albert Hakim
Albert Hakim
City Real Estate Group LLC
(586) 571-7854
88 Total Sales
1 in The Eye
$43,000 Price
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Hassan Scheib
Hassan Scheib
Own It Realty
(313) 646-7363
393 Total Sales
1 in The Eye
$189,900 Price
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Bryan Redmond
Bryan Redmond
BHHS Kee Realty
(947) 218-7258
77 Total Sales
1 in The Eye
$42,000 Price
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Milton Owens-Crawford
Milton Owens-Crawford
Responds QuicklyReach Realty Group
(313) 921-5133
47 Total Sales
1 in The Eye
$27,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 8th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Claude Allison Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Picnic Area
- Tennis
Kinloch Park
- Picnic Area
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Riordan Park
Edward G Heckel Park
Fargo-Fenton Playground
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | The Eye | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 7 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 7 | 4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
The Eye Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in The Eye, Detroit sell after 51 days on the market compared to the national average of 51 days. The median sale price for homes in The Eye, Detroit over the last 12 months is $87,000, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$105,000
Median Sale Price
$87,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$87,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
4%
Last 12 months Home Sales
46
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
2%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$97
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
841
Number of Homes for Sale
15
Median Year Built
1948
Months of Supply
3.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,423
Significantly below the national average
1,927
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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$79,000
- 3 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 850 Sq Ft
- 17696 Woodbine St
- New 14 days ago
Showings will be on July 29th between 12PM to 2 PM BY APPOINTMENT ONLY - PLEASE CALL TO ARRAGE A SHOWING ON THIS DATE BEFORE HAND. Excellent opportunity to purchase a home in Detroit's west side. The house is tenant occupied at 1,100 per month.
Nader Shariff Upside Investments
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$85,000
- 3 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 850 Sq Ft
- 17753 Woodbine St
- New 23 days ago
Solid brick home looking for a new owner! Currently home is being used as a rental property, tenant on a month to month paying $1100. BATVAI
Derrick Garland EXP Realty Main
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,969
Median Age
33
Population Density
8 ppl/acre
Population under 18
30.5%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
10.4%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$47,730
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$58,882
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
87.1%
College Graduates
15.2%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
4.6%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
66.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
30''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
38''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
45
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
53
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
48
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Oak Grove
Leafy streets and local parks in northwest Detroit
Five Points
Ranch homes and bungalows in Detroit's leafy northwest corner
Seven Mile-Rouge
Leafy, residential streets with easy access to big city amenities
Berg-Lahser
Low-key family living 16 miles northwest of downtown Detroit
Holcomb Community
Revamped homes within walking distance of shopping and dining
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