West Douglas is a historic, hilly neighborhood just north of the Kalamazoo College campus. It features some of Kalamazoo’s oldest houses, a prominent cemetery -- and Kalamazoo’s only castle. “It’s an older area with older homes and lots of mature trees, not far from downtown,” says Ben Barber, Realtor for Keller Williams Mulder Team. “There’s a high level of craftsmanship in many West Douglas houses.”
Henderson Castle includes a first-class restaurant, h ChopHouse, in West Douglas.
West Douglas is located just minutes from the shops and restaurants of West Main.
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Homes date as far back as the1870s
West Douglas is a step back into Kalamazoo history. The most prominent house in the neighborhood is Henderson Castle, a 25-room Queen Anne mansion built in 1895. “It’s definitely a landmark of Kalamazoo,” Barber says. It’s also a relative newbie in the neighborhood – several West Douglas houses date back to the 1870s. “For anyone looking for an older home, it’s a realistic neighborhood to find that,” Barber says. “You’re going to have trouble finding anything modern.” Houses in the neighborhood can range from bungalows to Craftsman and Arts & Crafts styles. There are even some farmhouses that provide evidence this was once Kalamazoo’s rural outskirts. Houses in the neighborhood range from $90,000-310,000, with some still in need of renovations.
This older farmhouse is an earlier style of home in the neighborhood of West Douglas.
Bungalows in West Douglas are a common housing style.
The streets of West Douglas feature mature trees and wide streets.
This Craftsman-style home is one of many in West Douglas.
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Dog park a neighborhood highlight
West Douglas’ largest park is for the dogs. Fairmount Dog Park is a 12-acre space where dogs can frolic off-leash, including a separate space where smaller pooches can play without having to worry about their larger peers. Adda Dilts Peace Park, maintained by the Kalamazoo Friends Meeting (Quakers), is a small playground open to all neighborhood families. Dilts Peace Park is across the street from Mountain Home Cemetery. Founded in 1849, the sprawling cemetery is the resting place for many of Kalamazoo’s most prominent early citizens.
A group of children engage in a game of basketball in Adda Dilts Peace Park in West Douglas.
West Douglas freatures a large dog park at Fairmount Park.
A couple of West Douglas residents walk their dog at the Fairmount Dog Park.
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Kalamazoo Promise rewards students
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. KPS schools serving West Douglas include K-5 Woodward School for Technology and Research and Hillside Middle School. Both receive C-ratings from Niche. High Schoolers attend B-rated Kalamazoo Central, where President Barack Obama delivered the 2010 commencement speech. St. Augustine Cathedral School, a K-8 Catholic school in the nearby Stuart neighborhood, is the only Kalamazoo-area school with an A-plus rating.
The Woodward School for Technology & Research benefits from the Kalamazoo Promise program.
Hillside Middle School is part of the Kalamazoo Promise, a free college tuition program.
Kalamazoo Central High School has earned a B- from the Niche.com website.
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Close to major events, including championship tennis
West Douglas residents don’t have to travel far for the biggest events in downtown Kalamazoo. Every March 25 is Oberon Day. This local holiday commemorates the founding of Bell’s Brewery, which is credited with kickstarting the craft brewing industry in Michigan. The Gilmore Piano Festival, held every other year, is a two-week celebration of all varieties of piano music. Closer to the neighborhood, Kalamazoo College has hosted the United States Tennis Association Boys Junior National Championships annually since 1943. “Agassi, Sampras, Chang – anybody who is anybody in U.S. tennis has played here,” says Graham Couch, a former Kalamazoo Gazette sportswriter.
Hills can provide a test in winter or summer
“Mountain Home” may be an overstatement, but not by much. West Douglas is a hilly neighborhood – in some places, the elevation is 100 feet higher than downtown Kalamazoo, which is just over a mile away. Some of the neighborhood’s streets are steep, which may challenge some vehicles in a Michigan snowstorm. For many bicyclists, those same hills present a welcome test in summertime. Bike lanes on Ravine Road connect to the Kal-Haven State Trail, which extends 34 miles to Lake Michigan. Kalamazoo Metro buses are available on Alamo Ave. and Douglas Ave.
The Kal-Haven Trail runs from Kalamazoo to South Haven and is located close to West Douglas.
Th Kalamazoo Metro bus line is an efficient means of transportation to and from West Douglas.
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Downtown amenities are a short trip away
The amenities of downtown Kalamazoo, such as Bell’s Brewery, are a bike ride or short car ride from the neighborhood. But West Douglas also has several in-neighborhood favorites. Henderson Castle has a wine cave and chop house open to the public. Near the neighborhood’s western boundary, Tiffany’s Wine and Spirits features thousands of wine varieties. Popular neighborhood restaurants like Saffron Indian Cuisine, Zooroona Mediterranean and Nina’s Cafe are in the same shopping center. “We have a lot of diversity, and the restaurant scene reflects that,” Barber says. “If there’s a certain type of food you’re looking for, typically it can be found in Kalamazoo.” The nearest grocery options are outside of the neighborhood, such as the downtown Park Street Market.
Saffron is a popular restaurant located in West Douglas and is open for lunch and dinner.
Saffron, an Indian restaurant located in West Douglas, offers a tasty lunch buffet.
Get your favorite breakfast food all day at Nina's Cafe in West Douglas.
Henderson Castle includes a first-class restaurant, h ChopHouse, in West Douglas.
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Crime on par with national average
The CAP Index rates crime in West Douglas a 4/10, which is equal to the national average. Though it is close to Kalamazoo College, West Douglas isn't known as a college neighborhood. Some students live in the neighborhood, but are not as prevalent as in the neighborhoods closer to Western Michigan University.
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
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David Howard,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Dutton Street Park
La Crone Playground
Kal-Haven Trail State Park
Bronson Park
Knollwood Park
Upjohn Park
Fairmount Dog Park
Adda Dilts Peace Park
Kalamazoo River Valley Trail
Transit
Airport
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International
19 min drive
Bus
Alamo & Alamo Hills Dr.
Bus
W. Main & Monroe
Bus
Alamo & Foxridge Dr
Bus
Douglas & Summit
Bus
W. Main & Prairie
Bus
Douglas & W. Main
Bus
Alamo & Denner
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
West Douglas
US
Homicide
8
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
West Douglas Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in West Douglas, Kalamazoo sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in West Douglas, Kalamazoo over the last 12 months is $140,500, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
One Private Room Available for Rent in a Beautiful 3-Bed, 2-Bath HomeLocation: Close to WMU, K College, and KVCC Downtown CampusAvailability: Move-in readyAbout the Home:Shared living situation with two current tenant (student-aged, full-time working)Fully furnished, clean, and safeRecently renovated inside and outAdditional spaces (not pictured): Unfinished but
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
David Howard,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
2,064
Median Age
29
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
31%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
7%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$24,204
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$38,488
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
79.8%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
34%
Advanced Degrees
7.3%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
63.8%
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®
41/ 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.
