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Southside Business District

Southside Business District

Neighborhood in Flint, Michigan

Genesee County 48503, 48507

$51,054 Average Value
$35 Average Price per Sq Ft
4 Homes For Sale

Southside Business District is built around automobile shops

Southside Business District sits along Saginaw Street, under the bustling overpass of Interstate 475. The neighborhood is home to industrial companies and auto shops, including Applegate Chevrolet, one of the city's oldest car dealerships. Small residential areas off the main road date have houses from the turn of the twentieth century, but time has taken its toll on these properties. In 2019, as part of the city's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, residents were polled about what changes they wanted to see in their area. Common responses included removing vacant properties and rehabilitating existing commercial buildings.

Saginaw Street is lined with businesses on the east edge of Southside Business District.
Saginaw Street is lined with businesses on the east edge of Southside Business District.
Southside Business District has one of the oldest dealerships in Flint, Applegate Chevrolet.
Southside Business District has one of the oldest dealerships in Flint, Applegate Chevrolet.
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Older homes that are often rented out

Flint's south side was developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The neighborhood's bungalows with front porches and detached back garages are typical of that time. Homes were once situated in tight rows, but over the years, some were abandoned and demolished, leaving empty lots between them. Today, properties needing major renovations start at around $20,000, and freshly renovated houses get up to $100,000 — making this one of the most affordable spots in the city. "It's a more affordable neighborhood, with a lot of fixer-uppers," says Dana Korth with Weichert, Realtors - Grant Hamady, who has 30 years of experience selling in the city. "You see a lot of homes rented out."

Some modern duplexes and rentals have begun to pop up in Southside Business District.
Some modern duplexes and rentals have begun to pop up in Southside Business District.
Vacant lots are common in Southside Business District though the community continues to develop.
Vacant lots are common in Southside Business District though the community continues to develop.
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The Golden Leaf has been a cornerstone for over 100 years

One of the south side's longest-standing businesses is The Golden Leaf, a membership-only social club and music hall. First formed in response to Flint's segregation practices, The Leaf, as locals call it, has been a cornerstone of Flint's African American community for over 100 years. Although legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Stevie Wonder have stopped by, The Leaf is all about celebrating local talent with regular bands, karaoke nights and community events. Other businesses in the area include The Cookie Jar, which was featured on Food Network for its homemade sweets, and Cantonese Gourmet South, which has been serving Flint for more than 30 years. South End Market has snacks, drinks and a selection of hot food options, but the closest large grocery store is Kroger, 2 miles south.

Cantonese Gourmet South has offered tasty meals in Southside Business District for 30 years.
Cantonese Gourmet South has offered tasty meals in Southside Business District for 30 years.
Golden Leaf is a member-only club in Southside Business District that once hosted Stevie Wonder.
Golden Leaf is a member-only club in Southside Business District that once hosted Stevie Wonder.
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Parks receive updates from the community

McKinley Park is tucked along Thread Lake, a quiet spot for fishing or small boats. The park has basketball and tennis courts, as well as a new playground. The playground was added in 2021 as part of the Choice Neighborhood Initiative to reinvigorate Flint's south side. Just a few miles south, Windiate Park has walking trails, play structures and a basketball court. A local non-profit rehabbed the court in 2022, adding a colorful mural with the words "Where there is unity, there is strength." Other nearby recreation services are membership-only. The Insight Health and Fitness Center is a full-service fitness center with a pool, exercise classes and personal trainers. A mile around the lake, the private Flint Golf Club has a long history, dating back to its founding in 1910. "It was a very prestigious club at one time, and it's still a notable attraction on the south side," says Bridget Brown, a Realtor with Re/Max Edge with over 10 years of experience in the city.

Active locals can practice drills at one of Windiate Park's many basketball hoops.
Active locals can practice drills at one of Windiate Park's many basketball hoops.
Insight Health and Fitness Center boasts a member gym for Southside Business District locals.
Insight Health and Fitness Center boasts a member gym for Southside Business District locals.
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Dual enrollment opportunities at local schools

Flint Public Schools is a school-of-choice district, meaning kids can apply anywhere in Genesee County. The closest elementary option in the city is Freeman School, which gets a D-plus rating from Niche. Kids can move on to Holmes STEM Middle School Academy, rated 2 out of 10 by GreatSchools. Southwestern Classical Academy, for high schoolers, is rated C. Nearby alternative options include the International Academy of Flint, a public charter school that serves almost 900 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. IAF is walkable from many homes in the neighborhood. Both Southwestern Classical Academy and IAF offer AP classes and dual enrollment courses with Flint's colleges.

Flint Southwestern Classical Academy offers students a dynamic learning environment.
Flint Southwestern Classical Academy offers students a dynamic learning environment.
International Academy of Flint boasts an a 3.5-out-of-5 rating on Niche.com.
International Academy of Flint boasts an a 3.5-out-of-5 rating on Niche.com.
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Bordering the bustling Interstate 475

Southside Business District is located a mile from the Interstate 475 and Interstate 69 interchange, providing quick trips out of the city in all directions. However, as I-475 passes through the neighborhood, it brings a fair amount of road noise. Downtown Flint is about 2 miles north along Saginaw Street. A bus runs along Saginaw every 30 minutes, connecting straight into downtown. Train tracks run along the neighborhood's north side, but an overpass system keeps them from obstructing traffic. The airport is 5 miles away, and the nearest hospital is 3 miles north.

The EPA recommends filtering tap water

In 2014, Flint's water became contaminated with dangerous levels of lead due to inadequate treatment practices. By 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency had declared the water safe but recommended that residents use a water filter. As the city continues to update its infrastructure today, the EPA still advises that all tap water be filtered. A mile west of Southside Business District, South Flint Soup Kitchen provides meals and bottled water for those in need. It also has a pantry with clothing, household goods and school supplies.

Catherine Lashley
Written By
Catherine Lashley
James Gordon
Photography Contributed By
James Gordon
Jacob McAllister
Video By
Jacob McAllister

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
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

Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to Scott Reel, an experienced agent in this area.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Bishop International

21 min drive

Bus

Nbd Saginaw & Hector

Bus

Nbd Saginaw & Madison

Bus

Sbd Saginaw & Oakley

Bus

Nbd Saginaw & Orvill

Bus

Sbd Saginaw & Lakeview

Bus

Sbd Saginaw & Tobias

Bus

Sbd Saginaw & Atherton

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Southside Business District US
Homicide 8 4
Sexual Assault 5 4
Assault with Weapon 7 4
Robbery 6 4
Burglary 7 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 6 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$26,000
Median Single Family Price
$32,690
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$35
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Last 12 months Home Sales
9
Months of Supply
5.30
Median List Price
$49,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
40%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
18%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
449
Median Year Built
1920
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
978
Significantly below the national average
1,937
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,356

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to Scott Reel, an experienced agent in this area.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
976
Median Age
37
Population under 18
26.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$43,692
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$49,424

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
91.6%
College Graduates
1.9%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
1.2%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
53.4%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
32''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
36''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

34 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

28 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

30 / 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.

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Southside Business District