$244,889Average Value$181Average Price per Sq Ft11Homes For Sale
A vibrant community along the river
The Grand River isn’t the only thing flowing in South West Area Neighbors, better known as SWAN. There's beer, thanks to the many breweries and pubs in the neighborhood's commercial districts. And there's history, with multiple museums preserving scientific and presidential history and nearby parks paying homage to the region’s Native American roots. Downtown Grand Rapids is just a mile away from SWAN, whose mix of century-old homes, modern condos and high-rise apartment buildings attracts everyone from families to college students. “The residents are a defining feature here,” says Mitch Luban, broker and owner at Edison Brokers Co. “It is a good group of different people living side by side.”
Southwest Area Neighbors, or SWAN for short, is a riverfront neighborhood in Grand Rapids, MI.
The SWAN neighborhood sits upon the Grand River in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Live music, breweries, and coffee beans
Grand Rapids has garnered the nickname “Beer City, USA,” and SWAN is a big reason why. Multiple breweries populate the neighborhood's central commercial district to the northwest, while bars and pubs can be found along Fulton Street to the south. Grand Rapids Brewpub – also known as The Knickerbocker – and Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria & Brewery are two of the more popular spots. Locals head to the Bitter End Coffee House for organic coffee served all day. At Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, live music and beer can be enjoyed in the low-lit, wood-lined setting. Bridge Street Market is the main grocery store offering fresh produce and a free-to-use parking garage.
Places like New Holland Brewing in SWAN help Grand Rapids earn the nickname “Beer City, USA."
At Bitter Ends Coffee House in SWAN, organic coffee beans are served all day.
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Parks, presidents and planetariums
The Grand Rapids Public Museum sits along the banks of the Grand River and invites visitors to explore its extensive collections of historical exhibits, dinosaur bones and aquariums. Space enthusiasts can catch a show at the adjoining Roger B. Chafee Planetarium. Across the street, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum enshrines the nation’s 38th Commander-in-Chief with memorabilia and artifacts from the life and career of President Ford. Ah-Nab-Awen Park was once the site of a Native American Village and reflects the area's heritage with interpretive markers and pieces of art. On the other side of the neighborhood, Lincoln Park features expansive green spaces and basketball courts.
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum showcases the life and career of the 38th president.
The Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium is located in the Grand Rapids Public Museum in SWAN.
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Century-old homes and renovated townhouses
SWAN’s housing is predominantly American four-square and Craftsman-style builds dating back to the late 19th and early 20th century. Homebuyers can also find Dutch Colonials and classic Cape Cods scattered throughout the sidewalk-lined streets. “Housing is a good mix of single-family and converted multifamily living,” says Luban. Renovated modern condominiums and high-rise apartment complexes populate the neighborhood's northwest corner. Single-family residences run between $175,000 and $300,000, while multifamily options range from $150,000 to $200,000. The market is very competitive, and listings, on average, sell after 9 days on the market compared to the national average of 43 days.
Many historic American Foursquare homes are located in SWAN.
The SWAN neighborhood has rows of multi-level homes.
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Grand Rapids Public Schools with higher education nearby
The Grand Rapids Public School District serves SWAN’s younger residents. Students begin their education at Sibley Elementary and Westwood Middle School, both of which received a C rating on niche. Westwood Middle School offers one of the only STEM programs in the region and immerses students in computer programming, robotics and hands-on STEM labs. Union High School also received a C-rating. Graduates looking to pursue higher education while staying close to home can head to Grand Valley State University’s Pew campus, which sits right in the heart of SWAN and is a center for engineering and business. Sacred Heart Academy is a private school option for parents to consider.
Sibley Elementary is a public school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus sits in the heart of SWAN.
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A Polish celebration
On the last weekend of August, thousands of people head downtown to attend the Dozynki Polish Festival, longest-running ethnic festival held in Grand Rapids. The city is home to a large and vibrant Polish-Lithuanian community whose roots in the area can be traced back more than a century. The three-day festival is a celebration of Polish culture, and features free live music, eating contests, and of course, Polka dancing.
Access to highways and downtown
Interstate 196 intersects with U.S. Route 131 in the neighborhood's northwest corner, connecting SWAN to the greater Grand Rapids area and surrounding regions. The Rapid public bus transit system, including the free Downton Area Shuttle (DASH), has multiple stops throughout the neighborhood. Gerald R. Ford International Airport is 15 miles away and can be reached by heading southeast on Interstate 96.
Historic houses of worship
SWAN has numerous historic houses of worship that reflect its Eastern European heritage including St John Chrysostom Russian Orthodox Church, which was founded by immigrants in the early 1900s and continues to operate today. St. Mary Catholic Church and St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church are other houses of worship with historical roots.
SWAN is home to some beautiful churches with historic architecture, including St. Mary's.
St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church is one of the historic churches in SWAN.
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Written By
Beck Connelley
Photography Contributed By
Jonathan Fairfield
Video By
Elia Faith Crianza
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Agents Specializing in this Area
Keith King
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Estate (Main)
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SWAN Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in SWAN, Grand Rapids sell after 13 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in SWAN, Grand Rapids over the last 12 months is $229,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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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.
