DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 08-21-06 B 49 CDB 8/14/2006 3:45 PM Page 1 Living and Investing in the D: Neighborhoods Corktown Boundaries: North of the Detroit River, south of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, east of 20th Street, west of the Lodge Free- way/Grand River Avenue History: In the 1830s Irish immigrants from County Cork began settling in De- troit’s near west side in what is now known as Corktown. It is the oldest surviving neighborhood in Detroit. Working-class residents built Victorian-style cottages and row houses on narrow 25-foot lots. In the 1960s, much of the original neighborhood was razed to make room for the Lodge Free- way and other urban renewal projects. The portion south of Michigan Avenue is known as Corktown Historic District. Today: Known for its walkability, Cork- town is teeming with new life these days. Since the 1990s, homes have been restored, new in-fill housing has been developed and new residents — including Latinos, young professionals and empty nesters — are making the neighborhood their home. Historic designations: National, local. Number of Homes: 300 in historic district, 400-500 in North Corktown. Architectural styles/sizes: Victorian, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival; 800-3,000 square feet. PHOTOS BY JOHN SOBCZAK Price range: $30,000- Shelley Sharron moved from Traverse $260,000. City to Corktown and bought a Neighborhood amenities: historic-looking new home. Within reasonable walking distance, historic Corktown offers many restaurants and considering one for renovation, she bars, two small-scale gro- opted for a brand-new 1,700-square- cery stores, retail shops, foot, three-bedroom home on a cor- professional-services offices ner lot in the northern section of and several good schools. Corktown. One of 30 homes devel- Greater Corktown Develop- oped by GCDC, it is designed to fit ment Corp. hosts the St. in with existing homes in the Patrick’s Day Parade, an an- Corktown neighborhood. nual home and garden tour, same time she began working “I still get the character of an old- Tour de Detroit Bicycle toward a master’s degree in ur- er home with the home being situated close Ride, Corktown Recycles Grand River ban planning at Wayne State to the street, the big front porch, garage in tin Luther King Blvd. Mar University. Having spent time in the back, but I don’t have to worry about and Festival of Lanterns at 20th St. Halloween. 75 10 the city visiting relatives, maintenance or upgrades of systems for a Home tour: Annually, first she’d always been intrigued by while,” said Sharron, whose work at GCDC Sunday of June. Call (313) Detroit. helped get the development off the ground. 963-6162. “I guess what really inspired Sharron moved into her home at the end Association fee: None me and brought me in this di- of last year. She used vibrant colors and an Web site: www.corktown rection was having grown up eclectic mix of furnishings to create a com- detroit.org or call (313) 965- in a small town with so much fortable and inviting atmosphere for fami- 5853. natural beauty and an econo- ly, friends and neighbors. Pleased with the Home owner’s story: Shelly Sharron my that depended on it. I watched how the “neat” mix of residents and the sense of While it is the dream of many Detroiters town grew and became interested in the community the neighborhood offers, Shar- to move to northern Michigan, Shelly Shar- planning and development side, rather ron sees herself living there for a long time. ron did just the opposite. The 29-year-old than just the natural-resource side,” said “(Living here) is so much more reward- client-services coordinator for Allied Build- Sharron. ing in so many ways — to have been in- ing Service Co. in Detroit moved from Tra- Sharron said she’s living a lifestyle that volved in getting the development off the verse City to Corktown. supports her belief in self-sustaining urban ground, watching the homes be built, meet- After completing a bachelor’s degree at areas that provide a strong sense of commu- ing many of my neighbors in that process the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in nity and character through carefully and now owning one of the homes and 2002, she took a job at Greater Corktown De- planned neighborhoods. working with the general contractor — it’s velopment Corp. as a project manager. At the Though her love for older homes had her really a unique experience.” CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS FALL 2006 Page 49 DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 08-21-06 B 49 CDB 8/14/2006 3:45 PM Page 1 Living and Investing in the D: Neighborhoods Corktown Boundaries: North of the Detroit River, south of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, east of 20th Street, west of the Lodge Free- way/Grand River Avenue History: In the 1830s Irish immigrants from County Cork began settling in De- troit’s near west side in what is now known as Corktown. It is the oldest surviving neighborhood in Detroit. Working-class residents built Victorian-style cottages and row houses on narrow 25-foot lots. In the 1960s, much of the original neighborhood was razed to make room for the Lodge Free- way and other urban renewal projects. The portion south of Michigan Avenue is known as Corktown Historic District. Today: Known for its walkability, Cork- town is teeming with new life these days. Since the 1990s, homes have been restored, new in-fill housing has been developed and new residents — including Latinos, young professionals and empty nesters — are making the neighborhood their home. Historic designations: National, local. Number of Homes: 300 in historic district, 400-500 in North Corktown. Architectural styles/sizes: Victorian, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival; 800-3,000 square feet. PHOTOS BY JOHN SOBCZAK Price range: $30,000- Shelley Sharron moved from Traverse $260,000. City to Corktown and bought a Neighborhood amenities: historic-looking new home. Within reasonable walking distance, historic Corktown offers many restaurants and considering one for renovation, she bars, two small-scale gro- opted for a brand-new 1,700-square- cery stores, retail shops, foot, three-bedroom home on a cor- professional-services offices ner lot in the northern section of and several good schools. Corktown. One of 30 homes devel- Greater Corktown Develop- oped by GCDC, it is designed to fit ment Corp. hosts the St. in with existing homes in the Patrick’s Day Parade, an an- Corktown neighborhood. nual home and garden tour, same time she began working “I still get the character of an old- Tour de Detroit Bicycle toward a master’s degree in ur- er home with the home being situated close Ride, Corktown Recycles Grand River ban planning at Wayne State to the street, the big front porch, garage in tin Luther King Blvd. Mar University. Having spent time in the back, but I don’t have to worry about and Festival of Lanterns at 20th St. Halloween. 75 10 the city visiting relatives, maintenance or upgrades of systems for a Home tour: Annually, first she’d always been intrigued by while,” said Sharron, whose work at GCDC Sunday of June. Call (313) Detroit. helped get the development off the ground. 963-6162. “I guess what really inspired Sharron moved into her home at the end Association fee: None me and brought me in this di- of last year. She used vibrant colors and an Web site: www.corktown rection was having grown up eclectic mix of furnishings to create a com- detroit.org or call (313) 965- in a small town with so much fortable and inviting atmosphere for fami- 5853. natural beauty and an econo- ly, friends and neighbors. Pleased with the Home owner’s story: Shelly Sharron my that depended on it. I watched how the “neat” mix of residents and the sense of While it is the dream of many Detroiters town grew and became interested in the community the neighborhood offers, Shar- to move to northern Michigan, Shelly Shar- planning and development side, rather ron sees herself living there for a long time. ron did just the opposite. The 29-year-old than just the natural-resource side,” said “(Living here) is so much more reward- client-services coordinator for Allied Build- Sharron. ing in so many ways — to have been in- ing Service Co. in Detroit moved from Tra- Sharron said she’s living a lifestyle that volved in getting the development off the verse City to Corktown. supports her belief in self-sustaining urban ground, watching the homes be built, meet- After completing a bachelor’s degree at areas that provide a strong sense of commu- ing many of my neighbors in that process the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in nity and character through carefully and now owning one of the homes and 2002, she took a job at Greater Corktown De- planned neighborhoods. working with the general contractor — it’s velopment Corp. as a project manager. At the Though her love for older homes had her really a unique experience.” CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS FALL 2006 Page 49 DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 08-21-06 B 50 CDB 8/14/2006 3:45 PM Page 1 Living and Investing in the D: Neighborhoods East English Village mas dinner, bunny hop at East- Brad Dick er and a residential beautifica- chose Detroit Boundaries: North of Mack, tion award in the summer. It over New York or San south of Harper, east of also coordinates the neighbor- Francisco Cadieux, west of East Outer Dri- hood’s snow plowing and secu- ve.