Bethune Community

If you want to live outside Detroit but not far off in the suburbs, Bethune Community will meet you in the middle as a residential neighborhood full of city amenities and small-town community vibes. Its convenient cost of living and proximity to the upcoming commercial development of the west side make it a desirable place to live.

A little over 10 miles from downtown, Bethune Community is a small neighborhood of narrow, gridded streets. With bus stops all along Puritan Avenue, Wyoming Avenue, and Shaefer Highway, many of its residents rely on public transportation to get around the area. For those who do have a car and need to travel farther distances, the M-10 – or Lodge Freeway – borders the neighborhood and allows people to hop on and head to wherever they need to go. DMC Sinai Grace Hospital is a little under two miles north of the neighborhood for any emergencies.

Finding your new home can be easy in Bethune Community with its creditable housing market. “It’s an affordable neighborhood that’s great for first-time homebuyers or someone with a growing family,” says Clayton Neal, a real estate agent with KW Metro who has specialized in the Greater Detroit market for almost 10 years. “The inventory of housing here is a nice variety.” You can find brick Tudor-inspired homes with steep gabled roofs for anywhere between $60,000 to $90,000. These properties were built in the 1920s, have small stone porches and range from 1,000 to 1,400 square feet. Ranch-style homes, bungalows and four-square homes line the streets at a lower cost of around $40,000 to $60,000.

Families living in Bethune Community have several options on where to send their children to school. Burns Elementary-Middle School has a C-minus grade on Niche but offers after-school tutoring and STEM clubs to boost its students’ learning. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary-Middle School also holds a C-minus Niche grade but provides bilingual education for multilingual students and maintains a 15-1 student-teacher ratio. From there, your child can attend Mumford High School. Despite its C overall grade on Niche, Mumford was the first Metro-Detroit high school to have a computer technology center and currently pulls a B grade specifically for its stellar clubs and activities.

At the end of the school and workday, you can take a load off at Adams Butzel Complex – the neighborhood’s beloved recreation center. “The center has been here for many years, and it helps gel the community together,” Neal says. “It really helps to have a center when you want to keep a neighborhood tight and engaged.” Shoot hoops on the basketball court with your friends, go for a swim in the pool or learn how to skate on the ice rink. The complex offers various programs and activities for its members to participate in together. If you have little ones that need to run around, Sawyer Playground is a fenced-in play area that also has a gravel walking path and open green space where you can toss a frisbee.

While Bethune Community is a primarily residential neighborhood, finding places to shop is easy. Traveling south for 1.5 miles to the intersection of Greenfield Road and West Grand River Avenue will get you to Tower Center Mall. The space has a multitude of familiar name brands like Rainbow Shops and Forman Mills. When you need groceries, Imperial Fresh Market on Lyndon Street is a local grocery store chain with fresh produce. If you don’t feel like cooking, grab a bite to eat at one of the many chain or local restaurants along Fenkell Avenue. LightHouse Fish & Chicken specializes in fried comfort food and seafood – chow down on chicken wings and fried shrimp. For a more sit-down meal, Marks A Eagles Coney Island is this neighborhood's Coney restaurant location and serves its famous chili bowl.

As the gateway between city life and suburban growth, Bethune Community is a cost-effective residential area with a lot of potential. Neal says, “It’s right at the center of a blossoming community. There are some good things happening here.”

Written By

Brittany Bell

Photography Contributed By

Christopher Giblin

Video By

Bill Jennings