Kalamazoo

The Burke Acres neighborhood provides access to urban amenities without the bustle. Will Howson, a broker with United Country Real Estate who has sold homes in the area since 2014 says home prices and practicality are the biggest draws. “Homes aren’t that expensive, but you have access to nature and everything you need in life,” says Howson. “It’s a pretty area. It’s close to the country but also close to businesses and hospitals.” With the Kalamazoo River bordering it on the east, Gull Road to the south, Spring Valley Park, a major hospital and accessibly priced homes, residents have urban and suburban perks at an accessible price point. “It offers affordable living with access to amenities and nature,” says Howson. Spring Valley, Kindleberger Park and the K-Zoo River Spring Valley Park offers nearly 186 acres of recreation at residents’ doorsteps. More than three miles of paved trails leave plenty to admire for walkers, bikers and runners. With three playgrounds and youth sports programs, kids have plenty of options to stay active. And kayaking, canoeing and fishing are popular spring and summer pastimes thanks to the lake at the center of the park. Grills and picnic tables, including a 30-person shelter, provide the perfect setting for reunions, parties or casual warm weekends. Kindleberger Park is just north of Burke Acres in Parchment. Snow sledding is one of the most popular activities in this 40-acre park, but warmer days bring more attention to other recreation options. The playscape is an after-school favorite. There are also tennis courts, baseball fields and a bandshell for summer concerts. Stretching 130 miles throughout the city, the Kalamazoo River is a serene but expansive boy of water bordering this neighborhood to the west. Mayors Riverfront Park is one of the ideal ways to experience the river. The Kalamazoo River Valley Trail runs 35 miles along the river and sits on the edge of the park. The park is also home to the Kalamazoo Growlers Baseball stadium and a playground. Established ranch, Cape Cod and national homes Most houses in Burke Acres were built in the 50s and 60s and are about 1,200 square feet on average. Ranch, Cape Cod and national architecture are the most common styles. Lots tend to be around a quarter acre, providing plenty of front and backyard space and distance from neighbors. Prices depend on the size, location and level of renovations done but generally range from about $75,000 for a 1,000-square-foot house that needs some love and climbs to $280,000 for a move-in ready, 3,5000-square-foot option. Kalamazoo Public Schools Kids attend school within the B-minus-rated Kalamazoo Public Schools district. Spring Valley Elementary has a C rating on Niche and is a popular choice for Burke Acres families with kindergarten through fifth graders. Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts is a popular next step just 3 miles west of the neighborhood. The middle school is ranked the 10th best public middle school in Kalamazoo with a B rating. A popular last step is Kalamazoo Central High School, which has a B rating and is about 7 miles west of the neighborhood. A very small slice of kids who live on the northeast side of Burke Acres can attend schools within the Parchment School District. Needing a car to get around Burke Acres is a driver-centric community with few sidewalks and bike lanes. Bus routes 6 and 9 run along main streets like Gull and Mount Olivet Road, but the easiest way to get around is by car. Gull Road is the community’s busiest thoroughfare. Major highways like Interstate 94 and US 131 are a few miles away from the neighborhood but can be reached by driving along Gull, Main and Riverview Drive. Flood and tornado risks Flooding is a slight concern for some pockets in this neighborhood, but most residents have concerns about tornado damage. It’s essential for residents to have solid homeowners insurance that would cover the cost of repairs in the case that a severe storm might damage any portion of their home.

At the heart of Kalamazoo's Central Business District stands Bronson Park, often referred to as Kalamazoo's "front porch." This historic park, established by the city's founder, Titus Bronson, symbolizes the blend of history and modernity that defines the area. Known for its shaded benches, paved walkways, and vibrant community events, Bronson Park encapsulates the lively and welcoming spirit of downtown Kalamazoo. The district's rich cultural scene, diverse housing options including condos and apartments, and access to numerous shops and dining options draw people to the downtown area. North Kalamazoo Mall is an outdoor shopping hub featuring local businesses like Cherri's Chocol'art, which offers a coffee bar, ice cream, local products, and its famous Monster Shakes. Gazelle Sports provides quality athletic gear, while Great Lakes Thrift Co. offers unique vintage finds. Kalamazoo Fashion House and Lana's Boutique sell clothing. The Kalamazoo Farmers Market offers fresh produce from May through October. Dining options include 600 Kitchen and Bar, serving dishes like Wagyu burgers and shrimp and grits, upscale Brick and Brine with seafood platters, ribeye, and lamb chops, and Thunderbird River Ranch, known for smash burgers, wings, live music, and weekend breakfast specials like chicken and waffles. Locals can shop for groceries at Park Street Market. The Central Business District is adjacent to U.S. Highway 131 and Interstate 94, offering convenient travel options to neighboring parts of Michigan and Chicago. "You can get on the Amtrak in downtown," says Ben Barber, a realtor with Keller Williams Kalamazoo Market Center. "A lot of people do that instead of driving. Kalamazoo is centrally located between Detroit and Chicago, so a lot of people will take the train as opposed to driving." The Kalamazoo Metro runs through the area, allowing residents access to the city. The Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport is just 4.3 miles away. Bronson Methodist Hospital is also situated within the area. Because of its many businesses, the area is very walkable, with sidewalks on every street. Bronson Park, the oldest park in Kalamazoo, is a central gathering place known as the "front porch" of the city. People can jog or walk on the paved walkways surrounded by various sculptures. Locals can also play table tennis in the park. The park hosts Lunchtime Live on Fridays in the summer with food trucks, live music, and games. The Central Business District is alive with vibrant events that draw both residents and visitors. JumpstART Weekend in June kicks off summer with the KIA Arts Fair, the Do-Dah Parade, food trucks, and a beer garden. Kalamazoo Pride in June celebrates LGBTQ+ pride with performances and festivities. First Fridays, held monthly, feature extended shopping and dining hours with live entertainment. "There's a thing called the SkeleTour they do in the fall," Barber says. "Local businesses will have a skeleton that they decorate, and they all get put downtown, and then people do tours and go around and see all the skeletons; it's a great way for families to get out." "In the center of downtown, the past five years have seen significant growth in mixed-use buildings, featuring commercial spaces on the ground floor and residential units above," Barber says. The city is building a $32.7 million 82-residential unit building with a restaurant at the bottom, according to Michigan Live. The neighborhood boasts a variety of housing options, with modern condominiums ranging from $219,500 to $350,000. Historic Victorian homes are priced between $325,000 and $475,000, while Craftsman houses cost around $290,000. Colonial Revival homes range from $312,500 to $410,000. Ranch homes are priced between $230,000 and $285,000, Mid-Century Modern styles from $300,000 to $370,000, and Tudor homes at $350,000. Lofts can fetch $305,000, and duplexes are about $225,000. The median home price is $251,000. The neighborhood has a CAP crime score of six. Students can attend Edison Environmental Science Academy, which has a C rating from Niche, for elementary school. They can then attend Linden Grove Middle School, which has a B rating. Older students can go to Kalamazoo Central High School, which has a B rating. The Career Pathways Program in Kalamazoo Public Schools offers specialized classes for various career paths, providing students with practical skills and opportunities. First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo plays a pivotal role in the community. It offers cell phones with one year of service to families in need. The church also works with the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry network to provide necessary meals for those who are struggling.

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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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.

Once home to Kalamazoo heavy industry like a paraffin wax factory and an asbestos tile manufacturer, the neighborhood of Edison is now home to creators of a different sort. Industrial buildings that once held the Former Ford Buggy Company and the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Company now hold a group of small businesses like Fiddle Leaf Café and industrial design firm Argenta Park. These businesses are part of Jerico, a collective of small businesses breathing new life into Edison’s industrial sector along Fulford Street. “They’re aiming for this space to be a small business incubator,” says Nick Jobbitt, twenty-year Kalamazoo resident and co-owner of Argenta Park. “Where people actually create things, as opposed to just conducting business.” Industry is impossible without workers, and Edison’s residential enclaves were built to house the factory workers of the neighborhood’s industrial golden age. This means Edison homes are mostly traditional in design and well-built. “Milwood homes are old,” says Ben Barber, Realtor at Keller Williams Kalamazoo, “but Edison is a little older. You’ll see homes from the 1800s, but I’d say most were built from the early 1900s to 1940.” Though they share a common era, Edison homes vary from Cape Cods to gablefronts, ranch-style to Tudor inspired. The median price is $120,000, but home prices have increased significantly over the past few years. “Five years ago, you could’ve bought a nice home in Edison for $80,000,” Barber says. “Now, you’ll probably pay about $150,000 to $160,000.” Kalamazoo Metro buses serve stops throughout Edison and many of the neighborhood’s streets are lined with sidewalks, so owning a car is unnecessary for traveling the area. However, drivers have easy access to the American Veterans Memorial Highway, which runs through the neighborhood and connects to Interstate 94 just east of the city. Recently, the city has started adding bike lanes, giving residents another option for getting around. Edison is a hotspot for fresh produce, local shops and locally loved restaurants. The Kalamazoo Farmers Market sits on Bank Street near Upjohn Park, and Town & Country Supermarket and La Hispanica International Market offer groceries on Edison’s Southside. Besides groceries, the neighborhood has a few local shops popping up, and Edison residents have been good to them. “Edison’s a great up-and-coming spot,” says Shay Church, co-owner of Grayling Ceramics in Edison. “It’s been clean and safe, and the people here are really supportive.” Grayling Ceramics, co-owned by Shay and his wife Maura, offers handmade ceramic wares in their workshop and showroom on Palmer Avenue. On the opposite end of the neighborhood, the small business collective Jerico occupies three historic buildings, offering 23 studio spaces for local artists and entrepreneurs. The studios attract shops like Fiddle Leaf Café, the Kalamazoo Backyard Yogis yoga studio, industrial design agency Argenta Park and more. Less than a mile east of Jerico, Lake Street holds one of Edison’s most beloved breakfast spots. Known for its cinnamon pancakes and other popular breakfast options, Julianna’s Restaurant has served Edison since 1989. On South Burdick Street, Nonla Burger garners love with dishes like their hot chicken sandwich and shake of the day. Spanning 18 acres and holding Kalamazoo’s only 50-meter outdoor swimming pool, Upjohn Park is one of the busiest parks in the city. Residents can join a pickup game on the park’s basketball courts or drop into the bowl at its skate park. Walkers and bikers of Edison can head to Mayors Riverfront Park and hit the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail alongside the Kalamazoo River. The park also houses stadiums for local teams like the Kalamazoo Growlers baseball team and the Kalamazoo Football Club. For a different outdoor experience, Edison residents head to Fulford Street, where Matthew Schmidt has converted the industrial courtyard of the former Kalamazoo Paraffin Company building into an open space for street art. Grass and wildflowers give the space a frontyard feel, while its industrial backdrop lends a gritty street vibe with brightly colored works by artists like ASMA, Bonus Saves and Orik. Edison students can begin their educational journey at Edison Academy, which offers pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade classes and earns a C on Niche. Middle schoolers can attend Grade 6 through Grade 8 at B-graded Maple Street Magnet School, which pairs all incoming sixth-graders with an eighth-grade mentor to help them acclimate to middle school. Loy Norrix High School earns a B-plus and has turned out famous writers, football players and musicians. All the schools participate in The Kalamazoo Promise, which provides qualifying students 100% tuition and fees for nearly all of Michigan’s colleges and universities. The Wax Factory isn’t just a venue for displaying art. Schmidt works with organizations like the Michigan Arts and Music Resources Collaborative and Gryphon Place to hold events like a summer barbecue, promoting the arts and championing mental health. Community is the most outstanding characteristic of the neighborhood and its events. The Edison Neighborhood Association is active in the community and organizes events like the Washington Avenue Arts and Culture Crawl, a mile-long showcase of music, paintings and other visual arts. Some risk of flooding With the Kalamazoo River running along the north of Edison and Portage Creek along the west, some of the neighborhood’s homes are at risk of impact from flooding in the next thirty years. Data from the website Risk Factor indicates nearly 33% of Edison properties are at risk of flood impact. The site reports that residential properties are at moderate risk while commercial and infrastructure properties may be at severe risk, meaning a substantial flood could overwhelm certain public services.

It is impossible to tell the story of Northside Kalamazoo’s present and future without reckoning with the reality of its past. As the heart of Kalamazoo industry in the early 20th century, the Northside is where African American residents settled after relocating from the South for work. An unintended consequence? The federal government “red lined” much of the Northside in 1937, effectively segregating the neighborhood from the rest of Kalamazoo. Those bygone policies still shape daily life on the Northside as its residents and businesses strive to create a brighter future. Unlike some of its peers in the Great Lakes Region, industry isn’t just part of the Northside’s past. Graphic Packaging International has a large paper mill here, and with that comes considerable semitruck traffic. The City of Kalamazoo’s water filtration plant is also in the neighborhood. Three Metro Bus routes run through the Northside – the 6 (Parchment), 7 (Alamo) and 15 (Paterson). Kalamazoo’s Amtrak and Greyhound stations sit along the neighborhood’s southern boundary with downtown. Most Northside houses were built between the 1880s-1940s. Craftsman, American Foursquare and bungalow styles are common. Homes range between $45,000-174,000, with some fixer-uppers going for less than $45,000. Business is growing in the parts of the neighborhood closest to downtown. Louie’s Trophy House is a Northside institution. Open since 1918, the bar and grill has a lodge-like feel – taxidermy covers the walls, with bands on stage playing beneath the watchful eyes of a buffalo head. Nearby Green Door Distillery, opened in 2014, is trying to change local perceptions of the neighborhood. “Unless people stop in, they’re going to have the preconceived notion that it’s not the best part of town,” says Shaneé Marvin, Green Door’s Director of Strategy and Innovation. “A big part of what we do is to show that part of town is a safe area.” Park Street Market is the neighborhood grocery store, and neighboring Victorian Bakery is a popular stop for freshly baked breads and pastries. On the neighborhood’s Douglas Avenue boundary, Cookie’s Creole N’ Soul can draw lines out the door for its menu of seafood and soul food favorites. There are multiple parks in Northside Kalamazoo, with LaCrone Park offering the most amenities. LaCrone has a playground, splash pad, basketball courts, shaded picnic areas and a trail. Kalamazoo’s softball and t-ball fields are on the Northside at the Versluis and Dickinson Softball Complex. The Kalamazoo River Valley Trail, part of a 24-mile system that stretches to Lake Michigan, cuts through the Northside. Verburg Park, which sits along with Kalamazoo River, is currently closed to the public as the Environmental Protection Agency removes PCB-contaminated soil. The cleanup project is scheduled to be completed in 2025. All Kalamazoo Public School students who enroll in ninth grade or earlier are eligible for The Kalamazoo Promise. The Promise covers full tuition at more than 60 Michigan universities, colleges and trade schools. Northside students can attend three elementary schools. Northglade Montessori Magnet School receives a B-minus rating on Niche. Woodward School for Technology and Research and Lincoln International Studies School receive C-ratings. Middle schoolers attend C-rated Hillside Middle in neighboring West Douglas. B-rated Kalamazoo Central High School, where President Barack Obama delivered the 2010 commencement address, serves the Northside. Several community organizations serve the Northside. The Douglass Community Association was founded in 1919 to meet the needs of soldiers at nearby Camp Custer who were denied services elsewhere in Kalamazoo due to their race. Douglass is home to multiple organizations, ranging from the local branch of the NAACP, employment services, a farmers' market, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo and the Alma Powell Branch of Kalamazoo Public Library. The Northside Association of Community Development, created in 1981, offers services to help increase housing and economic development opportunities for Northsiders. Churches are also a major player in the Northside Kalamazoo cultural fabric. Allen Chapel AME Church, Stones Church, Mt. Zion Baptist, Galilee Baptist and Second Baptist are among the neighborhood’s largest congregations. The Northside’s crime rate is higher than elsewhere in Kalamazoo. The neighborhood scores a 6/10 in the CAP Index. Marvin says local perception can create hesitance to explore the Northside. New patrons at Green Door can be taken aback by the sound of sirens, only to be surprised by the reason. “All the EMS ambulances park right next us,” Marvin says. “That's why there tends to be a little more siren usage on this part of town.” Ascension Borgess Hosptial is just across the river from the Northside. Flooding is another Northside concern. Though the Kalamazoo River floodplain is not residentially developed, the land here was originally swampy – in fact, the neighborhood was initially settled by Dutch immigrants because the boggy soil was conducive to celery farming.

On Christmas Eve, Oakland/Winchell transforms into a glowing wonderland. As dusk falls, the streets come alive with the warm, flickering light of luminaries, each one carefully placed by residents in a show of community spirit. "The Winchell neighborhood is the only neighborhood in Kalamazoo that gets together, and they do luminaries on Christmas Eve, which is cool," says Ben Barber, a local realtor from Keller Williams Kalamazoo Market Center. "For my family, that's our tradition. We drive over to that neighborhood after Christmas service at church. The whole neighborhood is decorated with luminaries. It's really, really cool." Oakland/Winchell offers a diverse range of architectural styles. Homes in the area typically have large front yards full of grass and trees, deep driveways, and only a few sidewalks, making it common to see neighbors walking their dogs or riding bikes in the streets. Some homes even have basketball courts in the driveway. The neighborhood's architectural styles range from Bungalows and Cape Cods to Colonial Revivals and Mid-Century Modern homes. Prices vary significantly, accommodating a wide range of buyers. Ranch-style houses are among the most affordable, ranging from $90,000 to $285,000. Colonial homes are typically priced between $119,000 and $275,000, while Bungalows are around $150,000. Cape Cod-style homes are priced at approximately $170,000, and Tudor Revival homes range from $180,000 to $350,000. Craftsman-style houses are between $200,000 and $290,000. Condominiums offer another housing option, priced around $222,000, for those seeking more upscale properties; traditional two-story homes are priced around $299,000. Colonial Revival homes can reach up to $825,000. The median home price is $304,000. The neighborhood has many local shops and dining options, including favorites like Sweetwater's Donut Mill, which has been serving daily special donuts since the 1980s. It is a local favorite for its unique flavors, such as apple crumble and New York cheesecake. Bilbo's, a staple since 1976, is renowned for its pan pizza and smoked chicken wings. Coffee lovers can enjoy a variety of beverages and snacks at Water Street Coffee Joint, which offers Mocha Del Sol coffee, iced chai tea lattes, and seasonal smoothies, along with food items like smoked chicken and bacon sandwiches, ham and cheese turnovers, and BBQ chicken cornbread muffins. Dessert enthusiasts can enjoy treats like blueberries and cream, coffee cake, ice cream, and sorbet. Amorino Gelato serves Italian gelato, while Cafe 36 offers natural, sustainable, and organic foods. Nearby shopping includes the Maple Hill Pavilion, home to stores like Target, Marshalls, Trader Joe's, Costco, and Hobby Lobby. Oakland/Winchell is known for its strong community spirit, with events like the luminary display on Christmas Eve drawing families together. Arcadia Creek Festival Place, just outside the neighborhood, hosts festivals all year long, says resident Graham Couch. "They will have the Blues Festival in July, the Caribbean Festival in late June, and they'll have Kalamazoo Pride." Third Christian Reform Church plays a vital role in local outreach, partnering with organizations like Kalamazoo Youth for Christ. The city also started a pilot project in the neighborhood to improve safety with curb bump-outs and mini-traffic circles. Oakland/Winchell is part of the Kalamazoo School District. Young children can attend Winchell Elementary School, rated A-minus by Niche. Middle school students can attend Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts, which has a B rating, while high schoolers go to Loy Norrix High School, which has a B-plus rating. Graduates who meet state requirements can receive a full scholarship to any public community college or university in Michigan. For private education, Heritage Christian Academy is a popular choice, boasting a B-plus rating. The neighborhood is rich in green spaces, providing many opportunities for outdoor activities. Woods Lake Park and adjacent Wood Lake offer plenty to do, from kayaking to fishing and a scenic walking path. There are also picnic tables perfect for summer outings. Kleinstuck Preserve, owned by Western Michigan, is a nice place to take a nature walk. Asylum Lake Preserve also has trails and is another popular place to go fishing. "We actually have two highways," says Barber. "Here we have U.S. Highway 131, which is a main north and south highway, and then we have Interstate 94, which is a main east and west. Highway 94 connects Detroit and Chicago. So, we get lots of traffic from that." The Kalamazoo Metro public bus system runs through the neighborhoods and connects locals throughout the city. The Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport is just six miles away, facilitating travel. For healthcare, Bronson Methodist Hospital is less than three miles from the neighborhood, ensuring medical needs are met promptly.