[secondamendment]

Around the WMU area? I may be relocating and looking at the many foreclosures in that area...east of the WMU campus is this area OK or what areas mite be better??

[northstar22]

Immediately east of WMU is the student ghetto, full of noisy college kids. Further east is the Edison Neighborhood, a high-crime, impoverished ghetto area. The Northside is also extremely ghetto, very high crime. Staying west or south of WMU would be the best choice -- those areas are really nice, with picturesque neighborhoods and very little crime.

[leadsquirter]

Originally Posted by northstar22

Immediately east of WMU is the student ghetto, full of noisy college kids. Further east is the Edison Neighborhood, a high-crime, impoverished ghetto area. The Northside is also extremely ghetto, very high crime. Staying west or south of WMU would be the best choice -- those areas are really nice, with picturesque neighborhoods and very little crime.

That's a pretty broad brush you used to paint the Edison and Vine neighborhoods with. The area in the previous post referred to as the "Student Getto" and east of WMU is known as the Vine Neighborhood. There are nice areas and dumpy areas in both neighborhoods. Both have neighborhood associations which have web pages where you can learn more, but nothing will actually be better than visiting the areas in question.

Downtown Kalamazoo Living on Historic, Tree-Lined Streets | Vine Neighborhood Association - Kalamazoo, Michigan
Edison Neighborhood Association > Home

[secondamendment]

Originally Posted by leadsquirter

That's a pretty broad brush you used to paint the Edison and Vine neighborhoods with. The area in the previous post referred to as the "Student Getto" and east of WMU is known as the Vine Neighborhood. There are nice areas and dumpy areas in both neighborhoods. Both have neighborhood associations which have web pages where you can learn more, but nothing will actually be better than visiting the areas in question.

Downtown Kalamazoo Living on Historic, Tree-Lined Streets | Vine Neighborhood Association - Kalamazoo, Michigan
Edison Neighborhood Association > Home

Thanks. I'm keeping an open mind. Shouldnt be too hard to check out. many forclosures <50K in decent shape...i'm keeping a house here so have to buy pretty cheap

[northstar22]

Originally Posted by leadsquirter

That's a pretty broad brush you used to paint the Edison and Vine neighborhoods with. The area in the previous post referred to as the "Student Getto" and east of WMU is known as the Vine Neighborhood. There are nice areas and dumpy areas in both neighborhoods. Both have neighborhood associations which have web pages where you can learn more, but nothing will actually be better than visiting the areas in question.

Downtown Kalamazoo Living on Historic, Tree-Lined Streets | Vine Neighborhood Association - Kalamazoo, Michigan
Edison Neighborhood Association > Home

I'm from Kalamazoo, so I'm very familiar with both the Edison and Vine neighborhoods. Areas of Vine can be nice, but the area is full of students. Parts of the neighborhood east of Park/Westnedge will have fewer college kids, but they are still there in significant numbers. Also, yes, it is known as the "student ghetto."

Edison is still a sketchy area, even though it is improving significantly. It used to be far worse, but it is still not a place in which I would be comfortable purchasing a home. If being around some crime doesn't bother you, then Edison may be a good choice. One major positive of Edison is that it is the most diverse neighborhood in Kalamazoo, with whites, blacks, and Hispanics is roughly equal numbers. Milwood, immediately south of Edison, is somewhat nicer and also has a decent number of nice older (1930s - 1970s) homes.

If you prefer a very safe area, look to the west and south. Generally anything west of Drake and south of M-43 will be nice, as well as anything south of Whites Road / Parkview Ave (on both the east and west sides of town). The area immediately WEST of WMU (the "West Michigan" neighborhood) is also heavily populated by college students, but is somewhat newer and nicer than the Vine Neighborhood. If you must live on the east side of things, areas along and north of Gull Road east of Sprinkle are really nice.

Avoid the Northside at all costs! I cannot stress this enough.

Don't discount Portage and Mattawan, either. Both are safe suburbs with lots of available homes. Schoolcraft is a nice suburb, too. Avoid Parchment, it used to be nice but now is going downhill. You can also save money by living in Three Rivers, Constantine, or White Pigeon, which will give you a bit of a drive but allow you to take advantage of the lower home prices in those areas.

[secondamendment]

Originally Posted by northstar22

I'm from Kalamazoo, so I'm very familiar with both the Edison and Vine neighborhoods. Areas of Vine can be nice, but the area is full of students. Parts of the neighborhood east of Park/Westnedge will have fewer college kids, but they are still there in significant numbers. Also, yes, it is known as the "student ghetto."

Edison is still a sketchy area, even though it is improving significantly. It used to be far worse, but it is still not a place in which I would be comfortable purchasing a home. If being around some crime doesn't bother you, then Edison may be a good choice. One major positive of Edison is that it is the most diverse neighborhood in Kalamazoo, with whites, blacks, and Hispanics is roughly equal numbers. Milwood, immediately south of Edison, is somewhat nicer and also has a decent number of nice older (1930s - 1970s) homes.

If you prefer a very safe area, look to the west and south. Generally anything west of Drake and south of M-43 will be nice, as well as anything south of Whites Road / Parkview Ave (on both the east and west sides of town). The area immediately WEST of WMU (the "West Michigan" neighborhood) is also heavily populated by college students, but is somewhat newer and nicer than the Vine Neighborhood. If you must live on the east side of things, areas along and north of Gull Road east of Sprinkle are really nice.

Avoid the Northside at all costs! I cannot stress this enough.

Don't discount Portage and Mattawan, either. Both are safe suburbs with lots of available homes. Schoolcraft is a nice suburb, too. Avoid Parchment, it used to be nice but now is going downhill. You can also save money by living in Three Rivers, Constantine, or White Pigeon, which will give you a bit of a drive but allow you to take advantage of the lower home prices in those areas.

great info, thanks

[Nightrider86]

You will want to avoid the northside at absolutely every cost, it is extremely dangerous. The oshtemo area is really nice but depending on the area can be a little pricey. Same situation with Portage. As the previous individual mentioned Constantine is a nice area, I have lived there, but it is a good 45 minute drive to most part of Kzoo in good weather. Schoolcraft would be an excellent choice, very close to the area, great schools, and a nice community. Vicksburg would also be a good consideration. Edison neighborhood is borderline so I cant confidently reccomend that. Richland is beautiful as well as Delton and may have some lower priced homes. If you dont mind about a 25-30 minute commute you could also look into Battle Creek. The harper creek and minges creek areas are the best parts of Battle Creek to look in. Again, like others have mentioned do not move to the northside it is nicknamed "mini detroit"

[Sgt. Buzzcut]

Mattawan, Lawton, Alemena, Texas Corners, Oshtemo. Take a ride down Red Arrow West of 131 there are a lot nice neighborhoods all the way out to Paw Paw. I also like the Alamo area out by Kalamazoo Speedway, take a ride down D Avenue West of 131 and backtrack some back roads to Red Arrow there's a lot of nice homes with nice lots out that way.

[secondamendment]

Thanks for the replies heading up Monday to scout thing out....

[secondamendment]

bought a place in Milwood. looked at 40+ houses. this has a very nice newer 3 car garage, new siding, new roof. i'm rewiring the entire house to 200a ($$) but have to insulate the sidewalls too. very nice area