The east side of Kalamazoo has new light shining on the neighborhood of Eastwood. “It’s coming back,” says Emma Powell, branch manager of the Kalamazoo Public Library Eastwood Branch. “It’s been quiet and things were kind of dropping off, with everything moving west. But now they’re rebuilding Eastwood.” Efforts to revitalize the area come mainly by way of renovations and community engagement. Homes being sold often come with fully renovated interiors and refreshed facades, and the median home price is up 11% from the previous year. The Charter Township of Kalamazoo is also refurbishing sidewalks to increase walkability in neighborhoods like Eastwood, and the township recently patched and resurfaced the trail at the Wilson Recreation Area.
Eastwood is one of Kalamazoo's eastern neighborhoods, with a selection of traditional homes.
The Wilson Recreation Area was built on the location of the Woodrow Wilson School in Eastwood.
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Wooded lots and a variety of home styles
Tall white oaks and flat grassy yards lend a private, suburban feel to Eastwood’s gridded lots, which come in a median size of roughly half an acre. From Colonial revivals to cape cods and ranch-style homes, styles vary throughout Eastwood, though the average home size is little more than 1,400 square feet. Prices typically range from $100,000 for 900-square-foot single-story homes needing renovation to $300,000 for newly refurbished homes that surpass 2,500 square feet.
A smattering of ranch homes can be found on some streets in Eastwood.
Many older houses have been renovated with some new homes being built in Eastwood.
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Bus stops along East Main Street and Gull Road
Eastwood’s main thoroughfares—East Main Street and Gull Road—have ample sidewalk space, but some of the neighborhood’s residential streets either lack sidewalks or come with narrow walkways. If walkers can easily reach Main Street or Gull Road, they can then access Kalamazoo Metro bus stops, connecting them to the rest of the city. The most common method of getting around is by car, so Eastwood households tend to have at least one vehicle. With Interstate 94 sitting five miles south, Eastwood drivers can easily head west to Detroit or east to Chicago.
Located just minutes from downtown, Eastwood takes advantage of all that Kalamazoo has to offer.
Kalamazoo Metro buses takes shoppers to Eastwood Plaza.
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A commercial corridor on East Main
Though Eastwood is mostly filled with homes and residential streets, there are a couple of restaurants racking up good reviews on sites like Google Maps. Near the forked intersection of East Main Street and Humphrey Street, on the neighborhood's west side, the brick and brightly-accented Lolitas Tacos is known for its authentically Mexican carne asada and carnitas. On the Eastside, McGonigle’s Irish Pub sits between a beauty supply store and a Family Dollar within Eastwood Plaza on East Main Street. The pub maintains near-perfect reviews for its Omelettes, cold drafts and Guinness Back Ribs. A little further east, thrifters can find antique rugs, gently used clothing and other gems at Arc Shoppes. If Eastwood residents want to stay in for the evening and have a homemade meal, they pick up fresh produce at Harding’s Market and cold drinks at Eastwood Market, both sitting on East Main Street at the Gayle Avenue intersection.
The Eastwood Plaza is a shopping center with retail and restaurant options.
Lolita's Tacos is a Mexican restaurant located on the corner of E Main and Humphys in Eastwood.
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An interesting photo opportunity near Sherwood Park
The wooded southwest corner of Eastwood holds Sherwood Park and its fort-like playground. Across Wallace Avenue from the park, a home with a front yard collection of plaster animals and tiki masks attracts visitors for a kitschy photo opportunity. A couple of other small parks dot the neighborhood, but its northwest corner sits adjacent to the 186-acre Spring Valley Park, where nature lovers enjoy games of disc golf, bikers and walkers trek the trails and anglers reel in black crappie and largemouth bass.
Spring Valley Park, one of Kalamazoo's largest parks, is perfect for dog walking near Eastwood.
Located near Eastwood, Spring Valley Park has a full disc golf course that's not too busy.
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Kalamazoo Public Schools
Parts of Eastwood lie within the Kalamazoo Public Schools district, while others are part of the Comstock Public Schools district. Elementary students can attend pre-kindergarten through 5th grade at Northeastern Elementary School, which earns a C on Niche. Linden Grove Middle School offers grades 6 through 8, and Kalamazoo Central High School completes the pipeline, with both schools earning a B. Students in the narrow northwest corridor assigned to Comstock Public Schools can enroll in kindergarten through 12th grade at Comstock Compass High School, which offers in-person and virtual classrooms.
Northeastern Elementary School has a B+ in diversity on Niche.
Linden Grove Middle School is one of KPS's newer schools, located near West Main Hill.
Kalamazoo Central High School has earned a B- from the Niche.com website.
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Events are small and focused on community
Without going into downtown Kalamazoo, Eastwood residents have a few small community events to enjoy. “The library’s open 10 to 2 on Saturdays and once in a while, we offer programs on Saturdays,” Ranbow says. “I just had a genealogy class for adults, and sometimes we’ll offer children’s or craft programs on Saturdays.” Ranbow says Trenches Community Church is also active in the community, holding classes and events that promote leadership and volunteering or provide assistance with basic needs. “A young man recently came into the library and said they were helping him learn to read so he can get his driver’s license,” Ranbow says.
Trenches Church, located in Eastwood, offers many services to the neighborhood.
A colorful concrete tunnel at Trenches Church is painted to represent the diversity of Eastwood.
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Photography Contributed By
Christopher Shires
Video By
Francisco de la Vera
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