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Core City

Core City

Suburban Neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan

Wayne County 48208

Neighborhood Reviews
3.0
$140,368 Average Value
$167 Average Price per Sq Ft
2 Homes For Sale

The rebirth of Detroit's "Core City"

Located just a stone’s throw away from downtown Detroit, the 4-square-mile neighborhood of Core City is emblematic of the vast city around it. While sharing the Motor City’s past struggles with deindustrialization and urban decay, Core City is experiencing revitalization, renewal and even a resurgence as new single-family homes and townhouses are being built. This housing renaissance comes as recent downtown development and big-box investment are bringing jobs and new life to this community at the heart of Detroit, making Core City a promising investment.

Grand River stretches from Core City to downtown Detroit.
Grand River stretches from Core City to downtown Detroit.
The Sawtooth building is an anchor in Core City's future.
The Sawtooth building is an anchor in Core City's future.
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Innovative architecture

“The innovative spirit of Detroit is undeniable as you explore the unique galleries, attend dynamic events and witness the area’s ongoing evolution,” Matthew Talbot, founder and team lead for The Talbot Team realty company, says about the transformation that’s blossoming through Core City and downtown. The excitement and anticipation in Core City’s atmosphere are tangible, expressed through Core City’s rapidly evolving housing market. One such example is the minimalist hut community, True North Detroit. Businessman Phil Kafka used low-cost prefabricated material to construct eight SteelMaster Quonset steel huts for living and working, bringing new variety to an older housing inventory. Completed in 2017, this revival of World War II military housing styles is complete with gardens, a community pavilion, parking and three pathways that open into the broader community. In addition, the nonprofit Core City Neighborhoods, Inc. has championed the effort to build about 100 single-family homes and condominium-type housing in the early 2000s for moderate to low-income residents. Generous investments from local community organizations and business leaders have kept property values extremely low compared to other areas, enabling business growth and development in this up-and-coming area. Homes vary in price from $100,000 to $382,750, with older homes filling the lower tier of this range and new townhouses bringing new life and a greater pricing variety to Core City. Empty lots valued between $2,500 and $99,000 are also scattered throughout the building, presenting promising opportunities for future homebuilding. “There is real land and real real-estate in a killer location to downtown and other sought-out areas,” Talbot adds.

The Quonset hut gets a twenty first century makeover at True North in Core City.
The Quonset hut gets a twenty first century makeover at True North in Core City.
Urban planners and architects love Core City.
Urban planners and architects love Core City.
Ish Rafiuddin and Prince Concepts create iconic and community shaping projects in Core City.
Ish Rafiuddin and Prince Concepts create iconic and community shaping projects in Core City.
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Downtown driving

A critical factor in Core City’s growth it its proximity to the lights and action of downtown Detroit, which lays just 2.5 miles away. Locals can access downtown via a car ride of less than 10 minutes down Grand River Avenue or along 14th Street and Michigan Avenue, while the 3 Grand River bus departs from Grand River & Buchanan and lands riders at Washington & Michigan just blocks from the city center at Campus Martius Park.

Grand River connects Core City to downtown Detroit.
Grand River connects Core City to downtown Detroit.
Core City is home to innovative concepts like PARK(ing), a lot with 78 trees for 28 cars.
Core City is home to innovative concepts like PARK(ing), a lot with 78 trees for 28 cars.
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A school called Quest

In addition to the wide range of prices proving to be a draw, some of the surrounding schools in the district are high performing. Hamtramck Academy has an A-minus rating from Niche, while the nationally known Cass Technical High School has a B-plus rating and Quest Charter Academy has a B rating. Nearby Cass, which counts Diana Ross, Ellen Burstyn and David Alan Grier as graduates, is a city-wide rigorous college-preparatory charter school; students must pass an examination to be admitted.

George Crockett Academy serves Core City students.
George Crockett Academy serves Core City students.
Core City youth attend Burton International Academy.
Core City youth attend Burton International Academy.
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High-grade dining

Core City would not have experienced such a rebirth without the support of local businesses, which also bring local residents together behind lunch tables and along bar counters. Among the most famous local businesses are Hygrade Deli and Mike’s Famous Ham Place on Michigan Avenue. Hygrade is known for its hot roast beef sandwich with potatoes and gravy, as well as a stacked corned beef sandwich that challenges the average jaw range. The deli was recently bought from the previous owner of 50 years, with its new owner, Detroit native Charles Nolen, also owning the popular but low-key Cutter’s Bar & Grill in the nearby Eastern Market.

Mikes Famous Ham Place has served nearby Core City since 1974.
Mikes Famous Ham Place has served nearby Core City since 1974.
Cafe Prince is a de facto incubator of ideas in Core City.
Cafe Prince is a de facto incubator of ideas in Core City.
Grab lunch at Hygrade Deli near Core City.
Grab lunch at Hygrade Deli near Core City.
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Graffiti and gardens

This small neighborhood is home to a few green spaces for outdoor recreation, among them Humboldt Forest. This privately-owned, but publicly available forum of creativity has become a popular spot for graffiti art, while the surrounding green space is often used as a dog park. Throughout Core City, a handful of community gardens, such as that at 16th Forest Park, have sprung up as grassroots initiatives to beautify this neighborhood’s streetscapes.

Feel the love in Core City.
Feel the love in Core City.
Humboldt Forest Public Park walls are built as a canvas for local graffiti artists in Core City.
Humboldt Forest Public Park walls are built as a canvas for local graffiti artists in Core City.
Core City Park is an urban green scape designed by Julie Bargmann in Core City.
Core City Park is an urban green scape designed by Julie Bargmann in Core City.
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Jacob Adelhoch
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
Eric Lynch
Photography Contributed By
Eric Lynch
Myles Manuel
Video By
Myles Manuel

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
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 Clarence Wilson, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Windsor International

29 min drive

Bus

Grand River & Forest

Bus

Martin Luther King & Lawton

Bus

Warren & I-96 Service Dr

Bus

Grand River & Loraine

Bus

14th & Poplar

Bus

Rosa Parks & Magnolia

Bus

14th & Grand River

Reviews

Niche Reviews
3.0 7 Reviews
5.0 Niche User
10/1/2014 Niche Review
NIts a very friendly commuinty that's has many differnt races.
1.0
9/11/2023 Niche Review
Everything is abandoned and forgotten. There is nothing left except party stores. You can see the decline
Are you familiar with the Core City neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Core City US
Homicide 9 4
Sexual Assault 6 4
Assault with Weapon 7 4
Robbery 7 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 6 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$290,000
Median Single Family Price
$120,000
Median Townhouse Price
$400,450
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$167
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Last 12 months Home Sales
7
Months of Supply
3.40
Median List Price
$249,999
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
50%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
186
Median Year Built
1900
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,401
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,257
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
5,445

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Clarence Wilson, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
1,659
Median Age
36
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.7%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$23,050
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$26,671

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
63.5%
College Graduates
7.9%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
1.1%
% Population in Labor Force
34.1%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
30''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
38''

Area Factors

Very Bikeable

Bike Score®

84 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

15 / 100

Good Transit

Transit Score®

52 / 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.

Nearby Neighborhoods

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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Core City
Clarence Wilson
RCH Brokerage Legacy Inc
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