The Martin Luther King neighborhood in Decatur is centrally located between employers, parks and shopping. Named after a main thoroughfare that runs from north to south through the community and the 20th-century civil rights leader, the area has seen its fair share of changes over the past 100 years. Once a bustling neighborhood of blue-collar workers and manufacturers who walked to work at the nearby factories, the spot is now quiet and sparse. Still, the area sees a healthy number of renovations while holding onto its history around red brick roads. "Each city has its area with older homes that have been left untouched for a while," says Renee Sommer, the managing broker and owner of County Line Realty, who has been in real estate since 1996. "But what those on the outside don't know is that the people of Decatur are survivors. We know how to overcome adversity and modify with the times." Assistance programs for homeownership loans and repair assistance are abundant in the city. With a low average price per square foot of $33, the Martin Luther King neighborhood has the potential for affordability and space for growth.
Charming bungalow houses in the quiet Martin Luther King area.
Many bungalow style homes can be seen in the Martin Luther King area.
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Attractive prices for investors and flippers
Bungalows and workers' cottages that date as far back as the 1890s are on the sparse streets of Martin Luther King. The bungalows with squat roofs and dormer windows often feature large front porches with the same width. Remnants of driveways remain from demolished houses, and the sight of boarded-up properties is not uncommon. "As you move east towards the train tracks, you'll find more rentals and more homes in disrepair," says Randy Grigg, broker associate at Vieweg Real Estate, who has lived in the area for most of his life. Some residents have taken advantage of the empty neighboring lots with tents, trampolines, parking or storage. While most homes are valued between $40,000 and $60,000, empty lots or homes in unlivable condition sell for as low as $7,000. "Any homes that need serious repairs are usually bought by investors and then flipped and resold," Grigg says. "Either that or they're bought by landlords who flip them to rent." The city of Decatur offers many neighborhood assistance programs that aim to increase homeownership for occupancy, and Martin Luther King is one of the neighborhoods that often sees those grants and renovations. Utility repair aid and assisted yard cleanups happen regularly. The roof replacement program is another busy program that improves the lives of residents who cannot fund the project themselves.
Many homes in the Martin Luther King area area valued at 40,000 to 60,000.
The Martin Luther King area has many charming bungalows in its neighborhoods.
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Shopping, employers and downtown all within 2 miles
Martin Luther King is centrally located between downtown Decatur to the south, shopping plazas to the north and major employers to the east and northeast. Less than two miles from it all, the neighborhood's proximity is one of its main draws, and buses run along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and North Water Street. "Back in the 1950s to 1990s, many residents used to walk to work from their homes," Sommer says. "The old homes are small and modest and usually don't have garages." Sidewalks line almost every street, although many are overgrown with weeds poking through the cracks. Decatur Fire Department Station 1 is near, bringing some noise of sirens to the otherwise quiet neighborhood. The neighborhood has an overall CAP Index crime score of 6 out of 10. While only two points above the national average, the score includes slightly higher-than-average scores for violent crimes.
The Decatur Fire Dept. station 1 near Martin Luther King area is the headquarters for Decatur.
Charming ranch-style home nestled in the heart of the MLK neighborhood.
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Nearby parks seeing renovations
Hess Park is just north of the neighborhood and has six baseball and softball diamonds, basketball courts and play equipment. "Hess Park is one of the locations where the Decatur youth baseball and softball leagues take place," says Katie Myers, the director of marketing at Decatur Parks District. "There is also a rentable pavilion that locals use for parties and community potluck events." There are over 30 parks in Decatur, and a few small ones are within a 1- or 2-mile drive. Fans Field and Torrence Park are to the east, and Garfield Park is to the west. The parks receive renovations periodically based on equipment age and wear and tear. "Garfield Park is one of the parks undergoing a major facelift," Myers says.
Hess Park near the Martin Luther King area offers great amenities.
Kids play on the swings at Garfield Park's playground near the Martin Luther King area.
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An old-fashioned butcher shop
Very little shopping or dining is in the neighborhood or nearby, but one standout is The House of Meats. The old-fashioned meat shop has an in-house butcher who slices up fresh cuts that can be purchased individually, by the pound or in large bulk orders. The meat bundles are popular purchases by restaurants in Decatur and the surrounding county. The spot also has a deli and serves pantry items to accompany the meats, like pickles, chili mixes and sauces. Residents can walk to Grand Discount and Pizza for tobacco, snacks, drinks and quick meals. Many do their weekly grocery shopping at the Family Dollar across North Water Street or head north on the same street to Aldi or Kroger. Some national chains and locally owned restaurants share the plazas with the grocery stores.
Grand Discount and Pizza in the Martin Luther King area makes delicious fresh homemade food.
The House of Meats near the Martin Luther King area offers good cuts of meats at great prices.
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High diversity and career exploration at school
Students in Martin Luther King are served by Decatur School District No. 61. The district is rated an A in diversity by Niche and is in the top five percent of the most diverse school districts in Illinois. Hope Academy serves kindergarten through eighth grade and is rated a C-minus. The district offers free breakfast and lunch during the week to every student enrolled, regardless of financial status. Douglas MacArthur High School teaches ninth through twelfth grade and is rated a C. Each year, the school offers a day for students to visit nearby Richland Community College to learn about different career opportunities and explore learning paths they may not have known.
Hope Academy near the Martin Luther King area is an excellent school for all types of students.
St. Teresa High School has an Overall Niche Grade of A.
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
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Parks in this Area
Hess Park
Monroe Park
Garfield Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Martin Luther King
US
Homicide
9
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
8
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Martin Luther King Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Martin Luther King, Decatur sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Martin Luther King, Decatur over the last 12 months is $465,375, up 1230% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Freshly remodeled apartments FOR LEASE. Located centrally in Decatur. This property is located in close proximity to grocery stores, shopping, and several restaurant's, offering tons of amenities just blocks away. These apartments provide a secure building and a safe environment for tenants. Each apartment is a ONE BED ONE BATH unit. The facility includes a shared laundry area for residents'
Stephanie HeiseVieweg RE/Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate-Service First
Freshly remodeled apartments FOR LEASE. Located centrally in Decatur. This property is located in close proximity to grocery stores, shopping, and several restaurant's, offering tons of amenities just blocks away. These apartments provide a secure building and a safe environment for tenants. Each apartment is a ONE BED ONE BATH unit. The facility includes a shared laundry area for residents'
Stephanie HeiseVieweg RE/Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate-Service First
Freshly remodeled apartments FOR LEASE. Located centrally in Decatur. This property is located in close proximity to grocery stores, shopping, and several restaurant's, offering tons of amenities just blocks away. These apartments provide a secure building and a safe environment for tenants. Each apartment is a ONE BED ONE BATH unit. The facility includes a shared laundry area for residents'
Stephanie HeiseVieweg RE/Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate-Service First
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Hope Williams,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
931
Median Age
35
Population under 18
31.3%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.2%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$24,106
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$33,168
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
66.7%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
10.6%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.6%
% Population in Labor Force
45%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
3''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
44/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
53/ 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.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
