$117,144Average Value$173Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
Major Jackson event spaces surrounded by quiet residential streets
Jackson’s Arts District is easy to identify, whether from the constant sounds of live music or the long, solemn brick wall with guard towers running along West North Street and Cooper Street. “This was the original prison for the state of Michigan,” says Ray Snell, a retired Jackson Realtor who currently serves on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. While it may have a harrowing past, the facility is now a hotspot for the city’s most creative neighbors. “They took the building and turned it into apartments, and they’ve done very well with it,” Snell says. Jackson locals also call this area “Fairgrounds,” and for good reason: the community is anchored by James J. Keeley Park, which comes alive each summer during the Jackson County Fair and other events year-round. Those living in the quiet residential streets surrounding these active epicenters will often come across folks traveling into town for the festivities, as well as Jackson’s own artists and performers.
Art 634 is an art gallery and studio space for local artist to work and display their works.
Smaller bungalow style homes can be found sporadically on the streets of the Arts District.
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From the County Fair to ART 634
Once the Ferris Wheel goes up, the anticipation begins for the biggest event in the city. “Our Jackson County Fair has been going on for 171 years,” says Snell, who regularly volunteers during the festivities. “That is well-attended out-of-state, too.” Rides, fried carnival fare and glitzy games are staples of the event, though swine and goat judging, and Saddle Bronc Riding at the Twisted P Rodeo are also major draws. The sounds of live music wash over the entire neighborhood during the week-long festivities and during other events scheduled throughout the year. “We also do a beer festival in the late winter that’s awfully popular, and we hold that at the fairgrounds,” Snell says, referring to the Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival. “The Keely Park grounds are actually a part of our park system.”
Juxtaposed to these active event grounds is the historic Michigan State Prison. Parts of the site not occupied by Armory Arts Apartments still offer educational tours, though little remains of the prison itself. “Most of the old buildings have been torn down,” Snell says. “The County bought the property, and with things like roof failure it was gonna cost too much to restore the buildings and keep them safe.” Other historic buildings in the area have also boarded the artistic train, like ART 634. The former wagon and carriage factory is the creative home to Jackson area artists, who make their living exhibiting their work in exposed brick gallery rooms and studio spaces. Aside from scheduled gallery shows, residents can book events like weddings, birthday parties and corporate events in The Carriage House, which is characterized by rustic brick, wooden beams and original hardwood floors.
The American 1 Credit Union conference center resides in James Keeley Park.
The Art District is the heart of the arts and creativity for Jackson as a whole.
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Living north, east or west of the fairgrounds
"No Parking” signs are scattered throughout the Art District’s single-family residential areas to help mitigate overcrowding during events, though James J. Keeley Park has plenty of parking and shuttles going to and from the grounds during the Jackson County Fair. Like the rest of central Jackson, homes were built between the late 1800s and the early 1900s, when the city established its industrial roots. National Folk homes, American Foursquares and Dutch Colonials sit beside bungalows with three-season rooms, most including detached garage space at the end of long driveways. Some homes still have wood siding that has been updated over the years, while others switched to vinyl. Cluttered front porches and yards with chain-link fences are common sights, and roads are in various states of repair, with those branching off busy thoroughfares like East Ganson Street or Lansing Avenue faring the best and those north of the fairgrounds with the most cracks and potholes. Prices in the neighborhood range from $41,000 for homes sold “as-is” needing extensive renovations, up to $190,000 for older turnkey properties and brand-new homes.
American Foursquare homes are among the most common found in the Arts District.
Window lined porches are very common among the American Foursquare homes.
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Trails leading to Lions Park or past Ella Sharp Park
The Arts Armory Walk traces along the Grand River and leads about a mile north to the softball fields, playground and pavilion at Lions Park, named for Jackson’s Lions Club. Nixon Water Park sits off Cooper Street next to the unassociated Nixon Skate Park, the former with paid entry and the latter a free resource. Besides these neighborhood options and the fairgrounds, Jackson residents travel about 3 to 5 miles south to larger city parks like Ella Sharp Park and the Cascades.
The skate park at William J Nixon Park is a popular spot for skaters to practice their tricks.
Those visiting Ella Sharp Park looking for a less intense variety of golf can find mini-golf.
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Close-to-home bites and trips to Jackson Crossing
Arts District area residents have limited dining and shopping options on Cooper Street or Lansing Avenue, which lead south to downtown Jackson. Besides Dollar General, Keyes Produce is a greengrocer offering fresh fruits and vegetables close to home. Neon string lights, darts and slots set the scene at Greystone Tavern on Lansing Avenue, a Jackson fixture with cold beers on tap and eclectic bites like the donut burger served on paper-covered trays. Folks head downtown for more popular restaurants before catching a show at the Michigan Avenue Theater, or shop for groceries at big-box stores like Kroger at Jackson Crossing, about 2 miles northwest.
The Soar Cafe has an attached market where you can purchase coffee, baked goods and other crafts
Jackson Crossing is a mall and shopping area just minutes from the Arts District.
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Walking, biking or driving to downtown Jackson
Pedestrians can take the tree-shaded Armory Arts trail all the way from Lions Park to the north to downtown Jackson, about 1 mile south of the Arts District. The trail is also bike-friendly, along with many of the roads that pass near or through these residential areas. Shuttle buses travel from the Keeley Park to the rest of the city during the Jackson County Fair, but there still may be heavier vehicle traffic in residential areas during fair season and other popular events. The downtown area is also cornered by Business US Highway 127 and Business Loop Interstate 94; exiting onto these thoroughfares takes drivers the 42 miles to Lansing, 36 to Ann Arbor or 77 to Detroit and the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Non-driving commuters can reach these cities via Amtrak trains that run through Jackson Station east of downtown, or by boarding Greyhound buses that stop at the Jackson Area Transit Authority (JATA) Transfer Station. The transfer station also serves as a hub for local bus routes that course through the Arts District. As for medical care, Henry Ford Jackson Hospital on East Michigan Avenue has been the city’s main healthcare space since 1918 and is surrounded by smaller practices.
Giant and colorful building murals can been seen on almost every wall in downtown Jackson.
Locals know to head to the Grand River Farmers Market for fresh produce and flowers.
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Schools for Arts District students
Kids living east of the fairgrounds are zoned for Northeast Elementary School, which scores a C-plus from Niche. Those living westward attend newly renovated Hunt Elementary, which also gets a C-plus. Middle School at Parkside, the city’s only public middle school, scores a C, and while Jackson High School gets a B-plus. Both offer a community closet program to help students and their families with supplies, from clothes to backpacks and toiletries. Jackson Public Schools allows families to choose from other district schools, and kids qualify for bus transportation if they live at least half a mile from their elementary school and at least a mile and a half from their middle or high school.
Jackson High School's Britton Hall is styled after a vintage English hall in Stratford, England.
The student to teacher ratio for Jackson's Middle School at Parkside is fourteen to one.
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 area?
Reach out to
Heather Herndon,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Jackson County Parks Association
Loomis Park
Ella Sharp Park
Sparks Foundation County Park
Lions Park
William J Nixon Park
Arts District Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Arts District, Jackson sell after 110 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Arts District, Jackson over the last 12 months is $310,000, down 81% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This 4 unit apartment building has been fully remodeled with new, long lasting laminate and vinyl plank flooring, water heater, and appliances. This investment is professionally managed and city certified, and priced at an above average 10% CAP rate. A four-plex provides a more stable income since 3 units pay the mortgage.- All 4 Apartments Remodeled- New exterior paint on building decks,
Here is a very spacious 4 bedroom (freshly painted) house with a front closed-in porch and back storage porch that enters into the one car garage. The roof is new. This house is within walking distance to the elementary school, to the high school, convenience store, gas station, and restaurants.
City Incentives Possible here! North Edge of growing downtown Jackson. HIGH-TRAFFIC vacant land with 1/2 acre on the corner of E Ganson & Mechanic. Near Art 634, Keeley Park, the Jackson County Fairgrounds, the American 1 Convention Center and on the Shore to Shore Bike Trail. Build your business here. An easy commute to rebuilt I 94 highway and a few blocks north of Downtown Jackson. City
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Heather Herndon,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
978
Median Age
44
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
28.4%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$29,999
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$49,421
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
85.5%
College Graduates
6.6%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0.7%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
55.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
32''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
35''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
52/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
64/ 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.
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.
