Walker

Grab a spot in the middle of the action with a home in Alpine Center. This area’s homes orbit around Alpine Avenue, a busy artery enveloped with an assortment of eateries and stores. Alpine Center’s homes were built across a wide range of eras, but all of them come with the benefit of proximity to the area’s amenities and access to the well-regarded Kenowa Hills Public Schools district. “There are a couple of newer subdivisions,” says local Realtor and lifelong Grand Rapids resident Mike Smallegan, CEO of Smallegan Real Estate. “I think they are close to Grand Rapids, but get Kenowa Hills schools over there. Lots of older houses, too, that have been there before Alpine was as busy as it is.” There are quite a few homes in Alpine Center that date back to the 1920s, but also many that were built in the mid-to-late 20th century and some condos built within the last 20 years. That means there’s great variety in architectural styles across the Alpine Center area, from 1920s bungalows to 1950s ranchers to modern new traditional options. Houses in the area start at around 900 square feet and can climb to over 2,000 square feet. Alpine Center homes line quiet residential streets, bordered by sidewalks and assorted trees. Most properties in this area come with a decent amount of lawn space, part of lots that typically stretch from about one-tenth of an acre to three-tenths of an acre. Sale prices in Alpine Center often hover in the mid-$200,000s but sometimes get to the mid-$300,000s for a well-maintained classic home or a relatively new condo. Alpine Center crosses from Grand Rapids to Walker, Michigan and is served by the Kenowa Hills Public Schools system as opposed to Grand Rapids Public Schools. Kenowa Hills carries a B-minus overall rating on Niche. Students in Alpine Center could start at the B-plus-rated Central Elementary, which was named a Michigan Department of Education Reward School in the 2019-20 academic year for its high proficiency. The B-minus-rated Kenowa Hills Middle is next, whose extracurricular opportunities include a golf club, a basketball team, a dance team and an orchestra. Then students move on to the B-minus-rated Kenowa Hills High, where they can earn an associate’s degree for free through the Middle College program, in partnership with Grand Rapids Community College. Many Alpine Center residents can walk from their front door right to the neighborhood park: Alpine Estates Park. This well-maintained 14-acre space features a playground, a baseball diamond and a basketball court. Also, anglers can take advantage of Alpine Center’s spot along a portion of the 252-mile Grand River, the longest river in the state. The Grand River is known for its populations of smallmouth bass, northern pike and steelhead in particular. Alpine Center’s quiet residential corridors live in balance with their convenient location in relation to the commercial thoroughfare of Alpine Avenue. The list of eateries along Alpine includes everything from chains like Burger King to Tropical Smoothie, but also locally owned spots like Tacos El Cuñado, popular in part for its wet burritos. Cap off a meal on Alpine Avenue with a visit to Grand Rapids Cheesecake Company down the road. Locals can also grab groceries and other essentials at Alpine Avenue’s Meijer supermarket. Alpine Avenue is lined with several bus stops in the area’s “The Rapid” bus service, which has more than two dozen routes total. U.S. Route 131 also runs right by Alpine Center, which drivers can use to drive south into downtown Grand Rapids, just about 5 miles away. Interstate 96 cuts through Alpine Center as well, a link to Lansing, roughly 70 miles east. The 100-acre Riverside Park, right across the Grand River from Alpine Center, hosts a variety of events over the course of the year, from Food Truck Fridays in the spring and summer to an Oktoberfest celebration in the fall. Riverside Park is minutes from Alpine Center, using Ann Street.