Northeast Central District

Tucked between Hawthorne Park and Conant Gardens, the Northeast Central District lives up to its name. Centrally located in the northeast portion of Detroit, the established residential area is near Interstate 75, which makes the eight miles into downtown flash by. This bedroom community is close to green spaces like Palmer Park and Farwell Field, and several sports arenas are a short drive away. Close to the shopping and amenities of downtown, the neighborhood's own Royal Palace Mall recently reopened, and bus stops can be found on every major road bordering the district. It’s also only 25 miles from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. According to Niche, Northeast Central has one of the lowest living costs in Detroit, and the area is comfortably populated without being overcrowded.

“The Northeast Central District is very investor-driven currently. There’s quite a bit of deferred maintenance on some of the houses, so investors are coming in and taking over the upkeep,” says Garrett Blair, a lifelong Michigan resident and owner of Wainwright Realty. “There are a lot of families who rent here before they’re ready to buy a house because there’s a lot to love about Detroit’s East Side. There are grocery stores and locally owned restaurants, and shopping destinations like Grosse Pointe are just to the east.” The neighborhood was primarily built in the 1940s and 1950s, and bungalows dominate the tree-lined streetscape. Detached single-family houses are set back from the road, allowing for small front lawns and larger, private backyards. Outdoor entertaining is popular in the warmer months, and sidewalks throughout the community make walking more pleasant. Prices range from $21,000 for a three-bedroom wooden bungalow needing love to $95,000 for a three-bedroom colonial-inspired home with a brick foundation.

Students in the area are part of the Detroit Public Schools Community School District and might attend Nolan Elementary-Middle School or Pershing High. Both have earned a C-minus ranking from the education ranking website Niche. Serving kindergarten through eighth grade, Nolan Elementary-Middle has a multitude of programs for students. It encourages participation in career exploration services and provides instrumental music, choir and dance classes. Pershing High is in the adjacent Conant Gardens neighborhood. The JDilla Music Foundation partnered with the school to create an in-house recording studio for the students. Pershing has something for every student, with nearly a dozen sports teams, a robotics program and a STEM club.

The neighborhood is near Palmer Park and has two small green spaces of its own. Dequindre-Grixdale Park is a small space frequented by residents. The fenced pocket park has a well-maintained playground, color-coded basketball courts and a pavilion with picnic tables. There’s also a paved walkway around the park’s perimeter and an open grassy area. Yakisch Park covers 1.5 acres and is easily recognizable by the large decorative stones lining the park's borders. Paved walkways weave through the grounds beside swings, slides and even a small charcoal grill.

Northeast Central is home to the West Indian American Association. Established over 50 years ago to help newly arrived Caribbean Nationals adjust to their lives in the States, the association promotes and facilitates cultural exchanges through 20 community events annually. West Indian immigrants arrived between WWI and II, bringing the music and sports of their homeland. In fact, the club has athletic activities like cricket matches and game nights to help the newly arrived make social connections. The group also has a rentable banquet hall often used for community events.

While Northeast Central doesn’t have many retail shops or restaurants, there are still places to grab a great bite nearby. Happy’s Pizza is a fast-casual eatery with a mission to serve customers in underserved communities. Founded in Detroit in 1994, the spot has more than just pizza. Locals can choose from seafood, barbecue ribs, fried chicken and burgers every day of the week. Generations Bistro is part of the open-air Royal Palace Shopping Mall. This Black-owned soul food business, whose chef is beloved by locals, serves braised oxtails, ham hocks and sweet potatoes in the carry-out-only restaurant.

A residential haven for those who appreciate low traffic noise, the revitalizing Northeast Central District appeals with its proximity to major roadways, green spaces and downtown.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Eric Lynch

Video By

Ennis Warlick