Heritage Hill Moving Guide

Heritage Hill has multi-colored Victorian mansions as stunning as any of the famous Painted Ladies in San Francisco. The neighborhood is a showcase for more than 60 different architectural styles. And developers now are investing hundreds of millions of dollars into state-of-the-art medical facilities on the neighborhood's edge and further strengthening its appeal.

Add the fact that the neighborhood is a comfortable walk from the theatres, pubs, universities, and other destinations in nearby districts like Center City and it's easy to see why Heritage Hill is the premier place to live in Grand Rapids.

Doctors, lawyers, teachers, and other elite residents of the young city originally settled the neighborhood around 1840. The district is bounded by Crescent Street to the north, Union to the east, Pleasant to the south, and Lafayette to the west.

But the neighborhood was nearly destroyed by bulldozers in the mid-20^th century. Weakened by race riots, suburban sprawl, and absentee landlords, the district was threatened with demolition in the 1960's as city leaders, bankers, and developers conspired to raze the area for urban renewal.

Concerned neighbors organized to preserve the great number of historically significant homes and buildings and on March 11, 1971, after extensive study, federal officials listed the entire neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places. At the time, Heritage Hill became the largest urban historic district in the country. Residents also formed tight block clubs to stomp out crime and take an active role keeping streets safe.

Today, Heritage Hill is one of the city's more magnificent residential districts. Homes date from 1848 and include an array of design styles, including but not limited to Dutch Colonial, Italianate, Prairie, as well as Classic, Greek, Gothic, and Georgian Revival.

The neighborhood also is again home to a wide variety of residents – upwardly mobile professionals, young families, spirited artists, and college students. Residents generally range in age from 18 to 64. And while whites makeup the majority, significant populations of black and Latino residents call the Hill home.

Finding the right place
Prospective residents will find plenty of opportunities to buy a home or rent an apartment in Heritage Hill. The trend in recent years has seen new residents buying multi-unit homes and restoring them for single family use.

But that is not to say that Heritage Hill is void of rental opportunities. Far from it. The neighborhood is located adjacent to several downtown college campuses and offers plenty of opportunities to rent apartments of all sizes and even homes.

Several apartment and condominium complexes also are located in Heritage Hill. The Oakwood, Hillmount, Stuyvesant, and the Waters Apartments each offer a wide selection of layouts and amenities to consider.

A typical Heritage Hill home lists for approximately $250,000. Targeted historic preservation tax credits are available for extensive rehabilitation projects. Just consult a local realtor, the city's historic preservation office, or the Heritage Hill Association.

The Heritage Hill Association maintains a complete listing of the apartments and homes for sale and lease in the neighborhood at their website heritagehillweb.net. The listings are highly organized and update often. Copies can be obtained at the association's office or on the Web.

From the North:
Take US-131 South toward Grand Rapids and merge onto I-196 East via Exit 86A on the left toward Lansing. Take Exit 78 for College Ave and turn right onto College Ave NE. Arrive in Heritage Hill.

From the East:
Take I-96 West toward Grand Rapids and take I-196 West toward Downtown Grand Rapids/Holland. Take Exit 78 for College Ave and turn left onto College Ave NE. Arrive in Heritage Hill.

From the South:
Take US-131 North toward Grand Rapids and take the Wealthy St exit, Exit 84A on the left. Turn right onto Wealthy St SW. Continue to Lafayette Ave and arrive in Heritage Hill.

From the West:
Take I-196 East toward Grand Rapids. Take Exit 78 for College Ave and turn right onto College Ave NE. Arrive in Heritage Hill.

Take I-96 East toward Grand Rapids and merge onto US-131 South via Exit 31A toward Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo. Merge onto I-196 East via Exit 86A on the left toward Lansing. Take Exit 78 for College Ave and turn right onto College Ave NE. Arrive in Heritage Hill.