Gateway Community blends historic charm with new development
If you feel like singing a tune as you walk down the streets of Gateway Community, it would be pretty appropriate. As the childhood home of Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross, this north-end neighborhood is full of historic charm with a bright future. “It’s up and coming. It’s developing slowly but surely,” says Hillary Dandridge, a Realtor with eXp Realty. “I’ve seen many older homes get bought and renovated, and younger families are moving in. There are some newer shopping centers, coffee shops, and things of that nature.” This historic neighborhood is located about 4 miles north of downtown along Woodward Avenue.
Historic homes give the Gateway Community its warmth and charm.
The Gateway Community is a short drive from Downtown Detroit.
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Vacant lots and fixer-uppers offer room to invest in an older area
As a well-established community, many of the homes in the neighborhood have been around for a while. You can find homes built in the early 1900s that have been renovated and kept up. The streets are lined with brick Colonial Revival homes and Victorian houses with turret windows and spacious front porches. Craftsman homes and bungalows are common also, offering room for friends and family to gather on the porch. There is a mix of brick homes and houses with wood siding. Houses are built close together, although there are a fair amount of vacant lots in the community. Some homes in the neighborhood are fixer-uppers, but Dandridge encourages buyers to put in the work. “Even if it needs some loving, purchase it and put some loving into it because it still has its historic charm,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to look at the houses that need a little work because you might find a diamond in the rough.” A renovated and kept-up home could cost anywhere from $160,000 to $330,000. Houses that need more work might cost around $40,000 to $100,000.
Historic American Four Square homes are plentiful in the Gateway Community.
Historic homes in the Gateway Community sit on large lots.
Older houses in the Gateway Community offer fixer-upper opportunities for new homeowners.
There is a wide variety of architectural styles in the Gateway Community.
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Robotics and college prep programs are the highlights of local schools
Woodward Avenue is the dividing line between school zones. Students to the east of Woodward will likely attend Golightly Education Center, rated a C-minus by Niche, and Southeastern High School, rated a C overall. Southeastern High serves approximately 550 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21 to 1. The school has a strong focus on business and administration and offers an award-winning robotics club known as the Junglebots. Students west of Woodward will likely attend Thirkell Elementary-Middle School and Northwestern High School, each getting a C-minus rating. Northwestern High has a population of about 400 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. The school is committed to helping students succeed, starting with the ninth grade success academy. Students can choose an upper-class course of study focusing on health sciences, entrepreneurship or STEM. The school partners with several local colleges and organizations to offer internships, jobs and service learning.
Golightly Education Center is attended by students living east of Woodward.
Southeastern High School offers students a free lunch program.
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Playing at Bradby Park and strolling through a tree-lined neighborhood
The area has few parks, but residents head to Bradby Park, a few blocks east of the neighborhood, for some outdoor time. This community park has a basketball court, a playground, picnic areas and an open field that can be used for soccer. The Boston-Edison Historic District is just south of Gateway Community. This historic neighborhood is home to mature, full trees whose leafy limbs stretch over the roads. You can stroll on the sidewalks through this community and admire the magnificent architecture of the homes that dot the streets.
Kids can take some energy out at the playground at Bradby Park in the North End.
Residents of Boston-Edison enjoy walking outside on its spacious tree-lined sidewalks.
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Comfort food and coffee shops line Woodward Avenue
Head south on Woodward Avenue when you want a good meal. The Turkey Grill is a low-key eatery serving comfort food like Cajun turkey wings, gumbo and chili. Locals enjoy the sides the restaurant offers, like the grits and mac and cheese. You can get your morning joe or an afternoon pick-me-up at Black Coffee Café. Residents enjoy the coffee and sandwiches in a colorful, bright space on the corner of John R Street and Kenilworth Street. You can shop for groceries at King Cole Foods, a supermarket at the intersection of Clairmount Avenue and Woodward Avenue.
Stop by The Turkey Grill for its famous Cajun-fried turkey.
Walk to the nearby Black Coffee for a fresh cup of joe.
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Public transit and highways support an easy commute downtown
When you need to get around the city, there are several major roads nearby that make commuting a breeze. Woodward Avenue, in the heart of the neighborhood, gives you a straight shot into downtown. The John C Lodge Freeway is just west of the community, while Interstate 75 is a few blocks east. Davison Freeway is just under a mile north of the neighborhood and connects the other two highways. Several bus stops along Woodward Avenue make it easy to use public transit, giving you a roughly 30-minute ride into downtown.
Public transit surrounds the Gateway Community for easy access.
All the activities found in Downtown Detroit are just miles away from the Gateway Community.
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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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Gateway Community
US
Homicide
5
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Gateway Community Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Gateway Community, Detroit sell after 50 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Gateway Community, Detroit over the last 12 months is $106,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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