Aviation

Located on the site of an old airplane drag strip once owned by the legendary industrialist Henry Ford, Dearborn’s Aviation contains a great deal of history and culture within its one-square-mile area. This neighborhood is a crossroads in more than one sense; not only do six streets intersect at Aviation’s heart, but Warren Avenue’s restaurants and Wyoming Avenue’s retail outlets meet on a street corner that provides access to both Levantine gastronomy and major shopping conveniences. While little known to many residents of Metro Detroit, this neighborhood brings out the best qualities of historic Dearborn.

Aviation's history begins with the golden age of American innovation in the early decades of the 20th century. Automaking giant Henry Ford purchased the Morrow Airfield located on a subdivision acquired by real estate mogul Robert Oakman, whose name lives on in Detroit’s Oakman Boulevard. While the airfield may have been replaced by urban development, this neighborhood’s rich history has since been augmented by its transformation into an oasis of cultural diversity.

Realtor Al Bazzy of Strategy Properties says, “Aviation is located on Detroit’s northwest side, just north of the city’s border with Dearborn. The neighborhood maintains one of the lowest vacancy rates in the entire city, and the streets are lined with well-manicured lawns.” These streets are also lined with a variety of housing styles, from classic colonials and cottages to more recently built foursquares and bungalows. Bazzy adds, “The vast majority of the homes in the area are solid brick-built, in varying styles and sizes; average rental rates for this neighborhood range between $800-$900 depending on the size of the home.” Properties tend to sell for between $300,000 and $400,000, well above Dearborn’s average home value of $235,000. Aviation stands out among its peers for its abundance of large homes with a diversity of designs, as well as for its charming streetscapes; Bazzy says, “Streets like Oakman Boulevard and Esper feature beautiful brick properties and well-maintained lawns.”

While most of this neighborhood is residential in character, a retail corridor along Warren Avenue serves as the culinary hub of Aviation. The majority of these restaurants serve Middle Easter cuisines, from Iraqi kebabs to Lebanese manakeesh. One of the most famous restaurants in Aviation is al-Ameer, a local Lebanese restaurant whose delicious platters of rice, shawarma, and fresh-baked bread have earned this local treasure a James Beard Foundation Award for Excellence. If your love for Middle Eastern cooking transcends the occasional restaurant visit, pick up some authentic Levantine goods at Hashems Roastery and Market, where tea, spices, and even imported nuts fill the shelves. For an even wider selection of produce and other grocery goods, visit the Eastborn Fruit Market for your general shopping needs.

Located just a block away from the excitement of Warren Avenue is the small Arthur Basse Park, where kids can enjoy the playground facilities, and families can have an outdoor lunch under the park’s picnic shelter.

Students also benefit from an above-average public education, starting with the “C-plus”-rated McDonald Elementary School and continuing with the “B”-rated Lowrey Middle School before culminating with the “B”-rated Fordson High school, which has consistently ranked among the top 100 STEM high schools in the state.

If you wish to live in a charming home within a historic neighborhood, and just around the corner from vibrant retail and restaurant scenes, consider Aviation in Dearborn.

Written By

Jacob Adelhoch

Photography Contributed By

Gregory Hayes

Video By

Jonathan Bradley