Warren Avenue Community

Situated at the corner of Route 39 and State Route 153, Detroit’s Warren Avenue Community’s crossroads location defines this neighborhood in more ways than one. Residents not only live on the border of the Motor City and the cultural oasis of Dearborn; the local food scene includes both the quintessentially-Detroit Coney Island franchise and several smaller, Middle Eastern restaurants; early 20th century cottages sit just blocks aways from refurbished brick bungalows; and both local grocers and big-box retail outlets are within a few minutes’ commute from the heart of the neighborhood.

Warren Avenue is quite an extensive road, stretching throughout Metro Detroit. Named for the American Revolutionary War hero Joseph Warren, this avenue in turn lends its name to a small community located near Detroit’s western edge. This neighborhood is the product of the post-World War II housing boom, as Detroit’s automotive industry took off and provided Detroit with an era of unprecedented prosperity. The Warren Avenue Community’s homes tell the story of this rip-roaring heyday of the assembly line, with 1940s and 1950s cottages, split-levels, brick-built bungalows, and Tudor-style residences lining quiet, tree-lined streets. These homes continue possess a special charm nearly a century later. Local Realtor Natasha Richards says, “You might fall in love with these brick bungalows, located just minutes away from Dearborn, Henry Ford College, and the University of Michigan.”

Age is more of an asset than a liability with these residences; many of these homes retain their vintage facades while boasting refurbished interiors. Richards adds, “These beautiful homes have been totally renovated throughout; extra-long driveways lead to two-car garages.” When you set your eyes upon these cozy homes, their verdant front lawns, the well-paved sidewalks, the curbside trees, and several two-car garages, you may feel the same sense of achieving the “American Dream” that many past Detroiters felt on moving into these homes when they were first built. Achieving that dream yourself is made easier by the diversity of housing prices that this community offers; most homes sell for between $50,000 and $120,000, ensuring that homebuyers have plenty of options to choose from. Richards sees promise in this neighborhood, saying, “There is lots to offer for the handy homeowner or savvy investor. You’re within walking distance to Dearborn and have easy access to major freeways.”

Beyond Warren Avenue Community’s diversity of housing stock and prices, this area’s abundance of retail outlets makes this neighborhood increasingly desirable. Drive a few minutes up Greenfield Road or down Southfield Road and you will come across major shopping centers. Within the neighborhood, the Fairline Food Center fulfills residents’ grocery needs with a local feel. For another quintessentially local experience, visit L. George’s Coney Island, a franchise of Michigan’s Coney Island hot dog restaurants. Here, you can not only find the classic Coney Island hot dog, but also Greek dishes inspired by this chain’s origins as a collection of Greek diners. Local character is also brought out in this neighborhood’s many murals, which celebrate aspects of Detroit life from the city’s skyline views to the bicycle riding that one can enjoy on this community’s quiet streets. The Warren Avenue Community is also home to several green spaces for outdoor recreation, from the open field and tree-shaded basketball court at the Simanek Playground to the soccer field and playground at Mansfield-Diversey Park.

Students attend Gardner Elementary School, Henderson Academy, and Cody High School, all of which have received C-minus ratings from Niche.com. However, Cody High School’s teachers are highly rated at the state level, and students benefit from smaller classroom sizes.

Access to major highways puts residents within a 10-mile drive from downtown Detroit and its entertainment and job opportunities.

If you’re looking to live in a historic home just a stone’s throw away from major retail outlets and far from the hustle and bustle of the city’s downtown, the Warren Avenue Community is a solid bet.

Written By

Jacob Adelhoch

Photography Contributed By

Colette Lane

Video By

Syd Silberman