The Eye earned its name for good reason. In the early 1980s, neighborhood residents had such a reputation for monitoring potential criminal mischief that the moniker stuck, like a name applied to a superhero. Back then, many residents were city employees such as police officers or firefighters. Because state law no longer requires civic workers to live in the city where they work, those demographics have changed. But The Eye is still a place where city streets have a suburban feel.
Houses thick as a brick
The occupations of homeowners in The Eye may be more varied than they were 40 years ago, but the houses themselves are still solidly made and budget friendly. From ranches to Tudors, Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals, brick is a material frequently seen in The Eye. Vinyl-sided bungalows and ranches also abound. Homes in the neighborhood have sold between $46,000-175,000, though many simply have not hit the market. “There are a handful of people from the old days and a lot of newer residents,” says Valerie Olander, who grew up in The Eye and owns Duffy’s Den bar and restaurant. “It’s a good diversity of people – old-timers and newbies.”
Brick Tudor and bungalow homes are plentiful in The Eye.
Unique Tudor homes offer nice curb appeal in The Eye.
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Home to Detroit-famous burgers
Olander’s dad, Red Olander, bought Duffy’s Den in 1983 after retiring from his role as a Detroit deputy fire chief. It remains a major social hub for this predominantly residential neighborhood. Duffy's hamburgers are perhaps the most famous feature of The Eye – its exterior wall claims to have “The Best Burger in Town,” and no one is suing for false advertising. “We’ve been on TV shows,” Olander says. “We get people who come from all over for the burgers. A lot of times, they moved out of the area and come back for a burger when they visit.” For grocery options, residents can go to an Aldi or Spartan Market in neighboring Redford Township, or Darou Salam African Market on Seven Mile Road in Detroit.
Share a drink with friends at Duffy's Den in The Eye.
Aldi is conveniently located just outside The Eye.
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An unlikely celebration of The Bambino
Detroit’s St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place 15 miles away in Corktown, but residents of The Eye can get there on a bus from Duffy’s Den every year. The bar also hosts one of the most unusual events in Detroit – the Babe Ruth Birthday Bash. Though Ruth has no connection to Detroit other than supplanting Tigers legend Ty Cobb as baseball’s biggest star in the 1920s, the event has taken place for 30 years on the Saturday closest to Ruth’s Feb. 6 birthday. More than 200 enthusiasts of The Sultan of Swat attend the party annually. “The people that put it together redecorate the bar with posters of Babe Ruth, hang streamers with Baby Ruth bars from the ceiling. There’s balloons everywhere,” Olander says. “We supply the Coney dogs.” Ruth himself would surely approve.
Multiple choices available for neighborhood
Residents of The Eye have multiple schools to choose from. Emerson Elementary-Middle School and Henry Ford High, both of which receive C-minus ratings on Niche, are the nearest Detroit Public Schools. Charles Wright Academy of Arts and Science, a DPS magnet school with a B-rating, is even closer to The Eye. Mason-Carver Academy, a C-rated K-8 charter school, and Communications and Arts High, a C-rated magnet school, are also minutes from the neighborhood.
Students in The Eye begin their education at Emerson Elementary-Middle School.
Communications and Arts High welcomes creative students in The Eye.
Students are challenged to excel at Charles Wright Academy of Arts and Science.
Henry Ford High serves grades 9-12 near The Eye.
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Revamped recreation
Lodge Elementary, the DPS school which once served The Eye, closed in 2010. For more than a decade, the building was a sad reminder of what was in the neighborhood’s Edward G. Heckel Park. But in 2023, Heckel Park underwent a $750,000 renovation that give it a playground, basketball court, softball field, horseshoe pits, volleyball court, fitness equipment, and long-awaited picnic tables and trash bins. Olander credits the Mortenson Grand River Homeowners Association’s advocacy with the city for the renovations. “It's amazing. We played softball there in the ‘70s, and boy, I wish they had picked the park up back then,” she says. “Because it's really nice.”
Children in The Eye enjoy the playground at Edward G Heckel Park.
Edward G Heckel Park offers a playground and picnic areas.
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Streets where speeders beware
The Eye keeps a close watch on speeders, too. Speed bumps are present throughout the neighborhood’s residential streets. The Eye is somewhat walker friendly, with a walk score of 56/100. Interstate 96 is 3 miles away, and DDOT buses run along Grand River Avenue and Telegraph Road.
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
Are you familiar with the The Eye neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
The Eye
US
Homicide
5
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
The Eye Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in The Eye, Detroit sell after 49 days on the market compared to the national average of 57 days. The median sale price for homes in The Eye, Detroit over the last 12 months is $87,500, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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