North University

Known mostly for the University District is named for its neighbor to the south, the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM). The neighborhood encompasses the UDM campus and the Detroit Golf Club and Golf Club Estates to the east. The western boundary is Livernois Avenue: once known to Detroiters as "the Avenue of Fashion", this commercial boulevard of small shops is becoming “Gallery Row,” home to a growing collection of art galleries and art-related businesses.

 

Enclosed by Eight Mile, Woodward, Pembroke and Livernois, the Green Acres neighborhood is known for its variety of well-kept houses. This historic neighborhood has one-thousand homes, all boasting the unique architecture of the 1936 era when many of these buildings were built. The community of Green Acres strives to maintain its historic homes and beauty, and the Green Acres homeowner’s association helps with this mission. Events are put on year-round in the neighborhood by the association, including a Kids & Family Fun Day and a Concert in the Park with performances by the neighborhood residents.

 

The neighborhood has access to the Gateway Marketplace and other local businesses, including restaurants, grocery stores and coffee shops. Older stores and stops, like Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, are a cornerstone to the shopping community.

 

Off Pontchartrain Boulevard and McNichols Road, the Palmer Park Apartment Building Historic District is made up of forty buildings. These buildings are a collection of some of the most varied examples of apartment building design. Designed originally for middle and upper-middle-class residents, the architectural styles of these buildings vary greatly. From Egyptian to Spanish Colonial Revival, Tudor to International and Art Moderne, all were constructed in the 1920s and 1930s, with development continuing until 1965.

In recent years, many of the apartments have been renovated and designed to be affordable housing inside these beautiful, historic shells. The People for Palmer Park, a citizen non-profit, has worked to sustain the district. They have cleared miles of trails, pruned trees and gardens, planted apple trees, and more. A splash park was put in for children, a disc golfing trail and more renovations were done to breathe life back into the park. People for Palmer Park have hosted festivals, tennis lessons, bike rides through the park and holiday events for all residents.

 

Off Seven Mile Road, Woodward Avenue, and Strathcona Drive, the Palmer Woods Historic District is a unique sight to behold. With elm-lined streets with straight, uninterrupted lawn, tall homes stand amongst beautiful forests. The historic district strove to take advantage of the area’s natural beauty and rural terraranan and in 1915, the first homes were established. With all the homes in Tudor Revival architecture, these homes have large brick and stones, with some having stained glass windows, coat of arms and other features. Various homes have even more than one structure, such as guest houses or maids’ quarters, as a nod to the past histories of these buildings.

 

As of 2015, many of the wealthiest professions in Detroit live in Palmer Woods and more than 300 homes are in the area. Neighbors to Sherwood Forest, this affluent neighborhood is close to Downtown Detroit and all the exciting events they have to offer.

 

Named after the setting of the famed Robin Hood series, Sherwood Forest was first mapped out in 1917 and the first house appeared in 1922. Bordered by Seven Mile Road, Pembroke, Parkside and Livernois and a neighbor to Palmer Woods, this district is split into two subdivisions: Sherwood Forest and Sherwood Forest Manor.

This neighborhood is known for its distinct homes, convenient location, and its friendly residential community. Only a few minutes from Downtown Detroit, residents have easy access to shopping, events, and everything that Detroit has to offer. The district has two residential community groups: the Sherwood Forest Association and the Sherwood Forest Patrol. Both associations work on bettering the community through events, work with city departments and create a community for residents.

 

Located one mile west of Woodward Avenue, the University District is named after the University of Detroit Mercy, located just south of the neighborhood. With all its 1,200 homes built during the “golden age of housing”, these homes reflect a wide variety of architecture. From the Tudor Style to French Provincial to Federalist styles, this district is eclectic and fun. The neighborhood is bordered by Seven Mile Road, McNichols Road and the university.

The University District Community Association is the community-run association of the district, with 15 elected Board members. The group plans social events, do walking tours of the neighborhood, snowplow non-emergency streets, and more. Due to its proximity to the university, there are plenty of amenities to keep residents active and engaged. A running track, the Northwest Activities Center, tennis courts and golf courses are only some of the active amenities. The UDM Theatre Company, the Detroit Repertory Theatre, and the Baker’s Keyboard Lounge are all in the area as well.