Waterfront living 15 miles west of Downtown Detroit
Grosse Pointe Shores offers upscale living along the sparking blue waters of Lake Saint Clair. Located about 15 miles east of downtown Detroit, this suburb is known for its luxurious homes, highly rated schools and waterfront access.
“The attraction is the proximity to the water,” says Realtor Jim Saros, vice president of Jim Saros Real Estate Services, a well-established local realtor and Grosse Pointe Shores resident. “It’s also got top-notch public safety and schools, although many people choose to send their kids to private schools here.”
Julie Ahee, a resident and Associate Broker at Sine and Monaghan Realtors, echoes Saros. “It’s a beautiful waterfront community with great services for its residents,” says Ahee. “There are plenty of amenities that buyers look for, I can walk from my house to Lake Saint Clair.”
Osius Park, Grosse Pointe Yacht Club and more recreation
Osius Municipal Park offers 8 acres of recreation on the coast of Lake Saint Clair. Pickleball and tennis courts, a public swimming pool, a playground and leafy lawns are available for residents to enjoy. Right next door, they sail from the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, a members-only club with a restaurant, clubhouse and regular boating events.
And a new, resident-only dog park is located at City Park and was built due to popular demand. “We’re always improving,” says Ahee. “We now have a dog park because we listen to our community to improve the lives of residents.”
Avid golfers love their proximity to the Country Club of Detroit, a private club with a luxury clubhouse and an 18-hole golf course. Lochmoor Club is also nearby with a private, 18-hole championship golf course.
Ford House, a historic mansion that belonged to Edsel Ford, the son of automobile kingpin Henry Ford, sits on Lake Shore Road. This registered National Historic Landmark has gorgeous grounds and gardens that are open to the public for a small admission fee.
Highly rated public and private schools
Students attend schools within the A-plus rated Grosse Pointe Public School System. Several options are within walking distance, including Ferry Elementary School, Parcells Middle and Grosse Pointe North High, all of which hold A ratings from Niche. Grosse Pointe North High enrolls around 1,400 students every year and has been ranked among the best schools in the country by news outlets like The Washington Post and Newsweek.
Some families opt for private schools, like University Liggett School, a pre-k through 12th grade option with an A-plus rating on Niche. The school has a 6 to 1 student-teacher ratio, and tuition is about $32,000 for the highest grade offered.
A broad variety of well-kept homes A broad variety of well-kept homes
Lush landscaping and tall elm and birch trees line the streets of Grosse Point Shores and create a canopy of greenery. There’s a mix of early and mid-20th-century homes, including Colonial Revivals, Tudor Revivals, ranches and some midcentury styles. Some areas have well-maintained sidewalks lined with homes that sit closer to the curb, while some have stretching driveways that lead to sprawling estates hidden behind walls of foliage.
Home sizes range from as small as 1,700 square feet on a tenth of an acre to as large as 8,000 square feet on a half-acre. Regardless of the home or lot size, owners have lovingly maintained these homes over the years, making thoughtful upgrades and renovations while retaining the home's original charm.
Prices typically range from around $300,000 to $500,000 for smaller homes and $600,000 to $800,000 for something with a little more yard space. Spacious, restored waterfront homes on the other hand can sell for well over $1 million.
Grosse Pointe Shores public services
Grosse Pointe Shores has an extremely low crime index score, receiving a 1 out of 10. For reference, the US average is 4. Ahee says low crime rates are a main draw. “It’s extremely safe,” she says. “We have our own police and fire departments, and the people are really friendly. The feeling of being in a safe community, where neighbors are friends, people love it.”
Shopping and dining on Mack
Dining, groceries and other necessities can be found close to home on Mack Avenue, about two miles west of the neighborhood. Cedar Garden is the perfect spot to try some Lebanese cuisine while Amigo’s Street Tacos offers spice-filled Mexican standards. For groceries, there’s a Kroger, Trader Joe’s and Aldi all within about 5 miles. There are also several water-side restaurants nearby that serve up fresh catches with scenic lake views. Mike’s is a community favorite, known for their buttery lobster rolls and direct boat access to Lake Saint Clair.
I-94 and bus routes
Commuters can easily drive into the city. Interstate 94 is about 2 miles west and makes the drive into downtown Detroit about 20 minutes. For those who need public transit, SMART bus stops run along the main streets like Lake Shore Road.
Photography Contributed By
Noel Poage
