The Villages of Detroit’s Lonely Homes Tour (a realtor-guided free tour of bank-owned residential properties) went off like a rocket in the sun on Sunday, June 14. Tour goers started arriving at Detroit Waldorf School even before the registration time of 12:30 p.m.; 52 people registered for two tours (at 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m.); and the bus provided by Royal Transportation delivered all in comfort to each of five stops per tour. And, while tour-goers were registering, WDET-FM Public Radio reporter Rob St. Mary interviewed them for his web blog.

Participants, led by local realtor Joy Santiago and contractor Dennis Schade, toured three single-family homes in Indian Village and West Village, one West Village duplex and a Gold Coast apartment in different stages of repair. The Tour was designed as a “snapshot” of the available properties at all price levels in our Community.

The tours ended at Mike Tyson’s English Village Brownstones on Field Street for a view of wonderful new construction for those who might prefer a standard purchase in move-in condition.

The Tour has already received compliments like this one from Mike Bobbitt of Hazel Park who wrote “Thank you for doing the tour. It was really impressive. Hopefully one day we’ll be able to…become part of the beautiful community you all have.”

It couldn’t have happened without the help of all the local Neighbors who volunteered their time, energy and talents before, during and after the Tour: Kirsten Ussery, Doug Way, Robert Troutman, Aaron Wagner, Wanda Brock, Janet Wasko, Kathy Beltaire, Kristi Katsma, John Collins, Elke Burger, Judy Delusky, Eric Tabron, Bryce Billings, Keegan Mahoney, Katie TenBrink, Kay Hanson and Paul Trombley. More “thank yous” go to Melanie Reiser and Detroit Waldorf School, Dusing Security, Don Fitzsimmons of Royal Transportation, Royal bus driver Cynthia, realtor Emily Progar, the staff of Indian Village Manor, and Victor Semelsberger of English Village Brownstones. And “thanks” to all those residents, businesses and organizations that have already donated money to the ‘Living in the V’ efforts – you are integral to its success.

The next Lonely Homes Tour (we already have four people signed up!) will occur on Sunday, September 27th as part of the 3rd Annual ‘Living in the V’ Real Estate Open House sponsored by the Villages of Detroit CDC. Stay tuned for more info as plans finalize, and please visit the Villages’ website at www.thevillagesofdetroit.com. You too can become a part of the effort by volunteering your time and energy or by donating dollars. Call Janet at 313-300-7414 or Kathy at 823-3918 – we need your help!  

Samantha, 8, Springer Spaniel

Hi there, this is Todd Ridley. I’m part of the team responsible for putting up this new site, and I wanted to say hello!

I’m also a resident of The Villages for just over 5 years now. I live on Seminole in Indian Village and love it. I had a thought to write this post as a greeting to you, the visitor, and as a description of my day here in this wonderful place.

So I work out of my home office several days a month when not travelling, and love to walk our dogs in sunny day’s like today. Look how pretty our neighborhood is! Who wouldn’t want to walk dogs here? Plus, today it’s particularly cool since the Red Bull Air Races are this weekend and they are practicing just out on the water, probably 1/2 mile from my office window. If you haven’t heard of these races check them out.

Anyway the noise of the prop-planes dive bombing reminded me of how close we are to GREAT stuff. Where else could you walk dogs in such a scenic and serene setting, and be so close to a major international waterway that’s hosting a major, international event. So close you can hear every bit of it!?

And that’s not the only event we’re so close for. Take Movement, the Hoedown, the Jazz Festival, the Fireworks, the Gold Cup Boat Races…and all right here while we enjoy living in such a beautiful, serene neighborhood.

Anyway, that’s one reason I love living here.

Thanks for visiting the site, and I hope you visit us in person soon!

-Todd

Welcome to our new website!

Hello, my name is Kim Clayson and I am president of the board of the Villages Community Development Corporation. Let me be the first to welcome you to our new website!

This new home for the Villages of Detroit includes several great new opportunities for the residents of the Villages communities to share their experiences in the Villages with the greater community.

Of most importance, our new website allows the Villages to share the results of a design charrette that occurred in February 2009 which included a full weekend’s work from architecture and urban planning students from Lawrence Tech, University of Michigan and Wayne State University. This excercise allowed the Villages to identify concepts and ideas that would help improve the quality of life within this collection of neighborhoods. From walkability, to retail, access to fresh food to greenways, students identified ways that the Villages can make itself an even better community to live in and to visit. The Villages is looking for feedback to the students concepts and ideas, particularly from those who live right here in the Villages.

We here at the Villages Community Development Corporation are excited to share why this is a great place to live, recreate and do business. The Villages has been my home for three years now and I have truly enjoyed the shared experience of life here in the Villages. Come and take a look at what the Villages has to offer and please consider the great reasons to live here and/or open a business here.

Kim Clayson

President, Villages Community Development Corporation Board,

Resident, Indian Village, The Villages of Detroit.