Royal Oak, Mi (Detroit, Warren, Waterford: real estate, houses, neighborhood)

[ROfan]

JS, seriously, you would rate Berkley High School ahead of Royal Oak High?

[the_muse]

Personally, I'd send my kids to Ferndale High School over Berkley or Royal Oak High Schools.

[rdub1968]

It seems the closer you are to 8 mile in RO, the less desirable it is.

[Ohio248]

Originally Posted by the_muse

Personally, I'd send my kids to Ferndale High School over Berkley or Royal Oak High Schools.

Ferndale schools are usually ranked MUCH lower than either Berkley or Royal Oak schools.

For one, there's massive white flight. If current trends continue, the schools will be almost entirely black within a few years. Not necessarily a bad thing, of course, but indicative of lack of desirability expect among poor folks recently relocated from Detroit.

For another, there were two students caught with guns brought into Ferndale High last year. There's even been talk of metal detectors. Highly, highly unlikely talk in either Royal Oak or Berkley.

And Ferndale schools usually test below-average for Michigan public school standards.

This is why so many folks who move to be Ferndale happen to be young, childless, often gay, etc. Stereotypical suburban families with children usually don't consider Ferndale because the schools are perceived to suck.

Another example- Pleasant Ridge has some huge, historic homes, yet they usually sell for considerably less than similar homes in adjacent parts of Huntington Woods and Royal Oak? Why? Pleasant Ridge sends their kids to Ferndale Schools.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by rdub1968

It seems the closer you are to 8 mile in RO, the less desirable it is.

LOL there's two mile roads between 8 Mile and and Royal Oak and two cities. In fact Pleasant Ridge which is closer to 8 Mile and borders Royal Oak to the south, is much nicer than Royal Oak.

[rdub1968]

Originally Posted by scolls

LOL there's two mile roads between 8 Mile and and Royal Oak and two cities. In fact Pleasant Ridge which is closer to 8 Mile and borders Royal Oak to the south, is much nicer than Royal Oak.

I said in Royal Oak, and Pleasant Ridge isn't in Royal Oak. This thread is about Royal Oak, not Pleasant Ridge.
North of 11 mile is a much nicer area than the Lincoln area. Doesn't RO go all the way up to 12 mile or so?

[scolls]

Originally Posted by rdub1968

I said in Royal Oak, and Pleasant Ridge isn't in Royal Oak. This thread is about Royal Oak, not Pleasant Ridge.
North of 11 mile is a much nicer area than the Lincoln area. Doesn't RO go all the way up to 12 mile or so?

Royal Oak goes all the way up to 14 mile. It's southern border is 10 mile and not 8 Mile and Downtown which is the most desirable place of Royal Oak is the closest to 8 Mile.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by Ohio248

Ferndale schools are usually ranked MUCH lower than either Berkley or Royal Oak schools.

For one, there's massive white flight. If current trends continue, the schools will be almost entirely black within a few years. Not necessarily a bad thing, of course, but indicative of lack of desirability expect among poor folks recently relocated from Detroit.

For another, there were two students caught with guns brought into Ferndale High last year. There's even been talk of metal detectors. Highly, highly unlikely talk in either Royal Oak or Berkley.

And Ferndale schools usually test below-average for Michigan public school standards.

This is why so many folks who move to be Ferndale happen to be young, childless, often gay, etc. Stereotypical suburban families with children usually don't consider Ferndale because the schools are perceived to suck.

Another example- Pleasant Ridge has some huge, historic homes, yet they usually sell for considerably less than similar homes in adjacent parts of Huntington Woods and Royal Oak? Why? Pleasant Ridge sends their kids to Ferndale Schools.

Berkley schools are why I chose Huntington Woods over Pleasant Ridge.

[bledeidol]

wow, people here actually think parts of Royal Oak are ghetto? I hung out on the streets between 10 and 11 Mile all the time during the summer and never got in any trouble or felt unsafe. Royal Oak is not at all like Detroit, in fact it is the definition of suburbia. Of course some kids in RO use hard drugs, but so do kids in rich neighborhoods like Birmingham, you just don't hear about it unless one of them ODs. that doesn't mean it's a bad neighborhood. now, Ferndale does have some ghetto areas closer to 8 Mile but it has a nicer downtown than Royal Oak IMO. can't speak for the schools but I believe the housing is cheaper as well.

[misserinann]

I am looking to move to this area. I am really alarmed by what I am hearing about drugs in Royal Oak. I hung out downtown RO for the first time on Thursday night. I have to admit, I was a little shocked at how scummy the scene was. I was under the impression that RO was for young professionals and young families. But that is not at all what I saw. Instead, the streets were filled with girls in very revealing, tight, unflattering, and quite frankly tasteless clothing. Guys were very rude, crass, obnoxious, loud, and aggressive about hitting on me and my girlfriend (which I am not flattered by in the least).

Needless to say, I am having second thoughts about RO. I have noticed that homes in Berkley, MI are very reasonably priced. Because I am a single woman, I am looking for a small starter home.

Can somebody tell me why Berkley is cheaper? Are there known drug or crime issues in Berkley? Can somebody explain the character of the neighborhood? I know I am asking for generalizations, but I would appreciate the feedback. Also, is there a good and bad side of Berkley?

What about Clawson?