$102,017Average Value$95Average Price per Sq Ft7Homes For Sale
History's impact still lingers
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.
This beautiful mosaic is located in the Northside Association for Community Development.
The Northside community has several, well maintained parks to enjoy.
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Houses date to 19th Century
Most Northside houses were built between the 1880s-1940s. Craftsman, American Foursquare and bungalow styles are common. Homes range between $45,000-175,000, with some fixer-uppers going for less than $45,000.
A variety of older, traditional housing types can be found in Northside.
Small, family homes line the streets of the Northside neighborhoods.
A quaint Craftsman-style home, one of several housing styles located in Northside.
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Parks offer balance to industrial area
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.
The Kalamazoo River Valley Trail runs for 30 miles throughout Kalamazoo.
The Kalamazoo River Valley Trail is one of Kalamazoo's great assets running through Northside.
The Versluis & Dickinson Softball Complex in Northside is home to Kalamazoo's softball fields.
The main attraction of LaCrose Park in the summer is the park's splash pad, in Northside.
The statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is located in the Northside Park honoring him.
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Northside students eligible for Kalamazoo Promise
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.
Northglade Montessori School is part of the Kalamazoo Promise, a free college tuition program.
Hillside Middle School is part of the Kalamazoo Promise, a free college tuition program.
Kalamazoo Central High School is part of the Kalamazoo Promise, a free tuition program.
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Community organizations play prominent role
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 oldest African American church in Kalamazoo is the Allen Chapel AME Church, founded in 1855.
Galilee Baptist Church, located in Northside, was founded in 1958.
The Mt. Zion Baptist Church was founded in 1921 and is located in Northside.
Stones Church, located in Northside, has congregations in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.
The Douglass Community Center organizations, in Northside, provide resources to the community.
This beautiful mosaic is located in the Northside Association for Community Development.
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Industrial presence shapes transportation
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.
Northside has a large industrial presence.
The former Gibson Guitar Co. factory is located in Northside, now the home of Heritage Guitar.
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Areas close to downtown open for business
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.
Cookies Creole N Soul is a favorite soul food restaurant in Northside.
Green Door Distillery is a micro-distillery located in the Northside neighborhood.
The Park Street Market, in Northside, is a full-service grocery store.
The oldest bar in Kalamazoo is Louie's Trophy Room, operating in the Northside since 1918.
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Crime and flooding concerns are prevalent
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.
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
Lori KnollAmbs,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Dutton Street Park
La Crone Playground
Kindleberger Park
Bronson Park
Mayors Riverfront Park
Upjohn Park
Kalamazoo River Valley Trail
Farrell Park
Harrison Park
Transit
Airport
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International
19 min drive
Bus
North & Woodward
Bus
Rose & Frank
Bus
Patterson & Pitcher
Bus
Norway & N. Westnedge
Bus
North St & Hawley Street
Bus
Prouty & Burdick
Bus
North & Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Northside
US
Homicide
10
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
9
4
Robbery
8
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
7
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Northside Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Northside, Kalamazoo sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Northside, Kalamazoo over the last 12 months is $93,000, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Historic Queen Anne-style property with over 4,000 sq ft above grade, located just a block from Woodward Elementary in a revitalizing neighborhood. Zoned multi-family or commercial, this property offers incredible potential. The interior has been fully gutted, providing a blank canvas for redevelopment—ideal for multi-unit housing, mixed-use, or a unique commercial space. Features include a large
Investor Alert! Great opportunity to own this 3-bedroom traditional 2-story home with Screened Porch and Garage. Spacious kitchen and living rooms with 1 main floor bedroom and 2 more upstairs. Convenient location-Kalamazoo Promise eligible and priced to sell As-Is!
Matt MulderKeller Williams Kalamazoo Market Center
This COMPLETELY remodeled two-bedroom, one-bath home is just one of many that are being restored in this section of the northside neighborhood. The home has brand new: flooring, paint, cabinetry, appliances, roof, doors, and windows. The brand-new furnace, A/C, and water heater are all high efficiency models. The main floor laundry/mud room has plenty of room for boots & coats. Best of all, the
Built in 1924 as a warehouse for the Kalamazoo Stationary Company the Walbridge Common Building is a long-time fixture of Kalamazoo's North-East Side. Constructed of concrete and brick with sweeping views of downtown. This iconic building is home to 47 beautiful and unique, industrial style apartments and a restaurant space, further adding to the vibrant Rivers Edge District. Located at
This loft style apartment has a unique floor plan that embraces the features of this 1939 restored factory. Apartment features include barrel roof wood ceilings that span to 18 ' above the living room, exposed brick walls and loft bedroom area. The open concept is approximately 650 square feet and include washer/dryer, dishwasher, kitchen with lots of storage, spacious, secured back yard with
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lori KnollAmbs,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
5,401
Median Age
32
Population Density
4 ppl/acre
Population under 18
31.1%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$23,173
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$34,059
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
75.7%
College Graduates
6.2%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
1.8%
% Population in Labor Force
48.8%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
33''
Average Winter Low Temperature
18°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
33''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
46/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
49/ 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.
