Sister Lakes
The lakes of Sister Lakes
Dolph Nature Area is a 75-acre matrix of water and vegetation, home to Ann Arbor's only two naturally formed lakes. Dog walkers use the network of trails and bird-watchers can spot up to 140 species of birds here. Each season brings a unique experience, from blooming flowers and competing birdsongs in the springtime to stillness and serenity in the wintertime — occasionally broken by the sounds of skates on ice. "Someone will go out and check the thickness of the lake's ice," Jessup says. "If it's safe, people will set up nets for hockey games and the kids can try ice skating. But it depends on the weather — it doesn't happen every year." While the Dolph Nature Area has a slight risk of flooding, the neighborhood itself is largely unaffected.An active neighborhood association
The Sister Lakes Association, or the SLA, was founded in 1970 to steward the neighborhood's natural lands. While the association still cares for the lakes, it also works to support the people who live here. It's not a traditional HOA — so there aren't mandatory fees or restrictions, but the SLA plans events like the biannual Help Yourself Day, a neighborhood exclusive yard sale where everything is free. In the future, the SLA hopes to hold an annual ice cream social and proposed plans for a neighborhood playground or a gathering space in the nearby Dolph Nature Area.The SLA also aims to address any resident concerns. "If there are neighborhood wide issues, like street quality or power problems, we look for opportunities to connect with the city to address the issue," says Jessup, who has served as the association president for many years. "It's like our motto says: We aim to achieve and preserve a diverse and inclusive community for living, working, playing, and aging."
Playgrounds and parent involvement at Lakewood Elementary
The neighborhood is zoned for Lakewood Elementary School, located less than a mile from most homes. The school receives an A-minus rating from Niche and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 11-to-1. The active Parent-Teacher Organization plans community events like get-togethers at the playground. "There's a big track that goes around the field that is open to the public outside of school hours," says Helen Tyler, a member of the Lakewood PTO. "Anyone can use it and it's really flat, so it's accessible to older people and wheelchairs too. We also have a community garden!" Lakewood feeds into A-rated Forsythe Middle and the A-plus-rated Skyline High School.Midcentury homes with green lawns and sidewalks
Various home styles, including bungalows, ranch-style homes, split levels, and Colonial Revival designs, usually built between 1920 and 1960, populate the neighborhood's winding streets. The average lot size is a quarter-acre and often shaded by mature trees. Two-bedroom properties can start in the mid $300,000s but prices can reach as high as $700,000 for larger, more expansive homes. The majority of the neighborhood has a suburban feel with sidewalks and crosswalks. However, the areas along Lakeview Avenue and Westover Street are disconnected from the main neighborhood and feature rustic unpaved streets and more private lots.Local coffee shop and Westgate commercial strip
At the corner of the neighborhood, family-owned 19 Drips Coffee & Tea is a local favorite known for its Yemeni coffee and hot breakfasts. "19 Drips is great," Jessup says. "And it's right within the neighborhood, so you can walk there." Right across the road, Weber's Hotel has a fine-dining steakhouse that opened in 1937.Less than a mile away, Westgate Shopping Center is one of Ann Arbor's biggest shopping destinations. "You could walk to Westgate from here," Jessup says. "But it's not the most pleasant walk along busy Jackson Road." Westgate has a variety of restaurants, as well as Plum Market and Kroger; and its also home to the Westgate Branch Public Library.
The west side of Interstate 94
Downtown Ann Arbor is 3 miles away from Sister Lakes. A bus line runs down Jackson Road every half hour, offering a 10-minute commute into downtown. The University of Michigan's main campus and the university hospital are located there.Sister Lakes is cut off from Ann Arbor by Interstate 94, however, both I-94 and Jackson Road bring some noise to the area. However, a cemetery along its eastern edge buffers it from some road noise. The community's immediate access to I-94 makes for quick commutes east and west, and the interstate connects residents with the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, 28 miles away.



Agents Specializing in this Area
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Sierra Imwalle
The Charles Reinhart Company
(877) 506-2004
93 Total Sales
1 in Sister Lakes
$450,000 Price
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Charlie Koenn
Responds QuicklySwisher Commercial
(734) 436-2151
75 Total Sales
1 in Sister Lakes
$650,000 Price
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Christopher Bergmans
Responds QuicklyThe Charles Reinhart Company
(734) 436-3173
126 Total Sales
1 in Sister Lakes
$365,000 Price
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Brad Jordan
Responds QuicklyRealty Experts LLC
(734) 802-1334
165 Total Sales
1 in Sister Lakes
$145,000 Price
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Brent Flewelling
Responds QuicklyCharles Reinhart Co-Ann Arbor
(734) 436-2193
510 Total Sales
2 in Sister Lakes
$350K - $1M Price Range
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Daniel DeCapua
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Platinum
(734) 822-9285
521 Total Sales
2 in Sister Lakes
$225K - $335K Price Range
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Sister Lakes | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 1 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
Robbery | 2 | 4 |
Burglary | 4 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
Larceny | 5 | 4 |
Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Sister Lakes Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Sister Lakes, Ann Arbor sell after 67 days on the market compared to the national average of 69 days. The median sale price for homes in Sister Lakes, Ann Arbor over the last 12 months is $685,000.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Sunday, Jul 271 - 3pm
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Sunday, Jul 271 - 3pm
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Sunday, Jul 2711am - 1pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
Some Transit
Transit 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.
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