Wayne state university and housing around school

WayneStateKatie · Mar 31, 2008

I am a wayne student and have lived both in the city for 2+ years and now have moved into the northern suburbs.

If you don't have a car and aren't looking for a commute there are a few apartment buildings around campus that are all right. I lived in cathedral towers-- studios were only 450 a month and included all utilities. It's 2 blocks from campus but it has roaches and there are mostly senior citizen residents there.... The belcrest has a pool and roaches but parking sucks. Forest arms was also cheap and close to campus but they recently had a fire from a kid trying to kill himself I believe and half of it burned.

The ABC building is nice and is on prentis and 2nd close to the bronx bar and about 4 blocks from campus. they are mostly 2-3 br and run about 700 a month last i checked. I definitely wouldn't walk around down in any of these areas alone at night and even don't walk at night even with friends. You really need a bike to ride in these areas to be safer at night. It's fine during the day. Another drawback is there really aren't grocery stores in the area and you're limited to foraging in liquor stores and produce is limited. I love Detroit and the city but you have to be pretty smart and savvy to live in the city I know a lot of people that have had a lot of not so great stuff happen.

Trowbridge is another popular area of Detroit for students-- it's on the other side of the lodge and is less than a mile to campus.

Hamtramck is about 2 miles from campus. It is very affordable (2 bed flats about 500-600). Again no real grocery stores.... It's a neat mix of people-- younger student types and a LARGE immigrant population mostly polish. Again, Hamtramck is an urban environment and I would say it's safer than Detroit but is not without it's problems.

If you're from the SW area of the state (I'm not familiar with the area but I picture small towns...) you might not be as familiar with an urban environment and all the potential situations you may come across. If you have a car and don't mind a short commute (my drive to campus is 10 minutes.......) then I'd really recommend the northern suburbs.

Ferndale is directly north of Detroit and is right off woodward-- you can just drive down woodward to campus. Royal oak is just north of ferndale. Both are nice small towns with great downtown areas, bars, places to eat , independent businesses etc and most of all grocery stores with PRODUCE!

Ferndale is pretty affordable with two bedroom flats around 725 or one bedrooms around 400-600. Royal Oak is slightly pricier but still affordable if you know where to look (i've found 2 bedroom houses in downtown for rent from 700 to 900. Plenty of apts are much less and on bedrooms in two family homes are about 600)

I LOVE WAYNE and I love Detroit and the surrounding. This is super long and probably way more info than you wanted but if you would like some more info or would like help when you move in the area, want someone to show you around, or to talk with any questions I'd be happy to help you out. I always love meeting new people.

PS-- how did you already hear back from wayne? I'm waiting to hear for the traditional program and have to wait till june to find out I'm jealous.

OnlyByHisGrace · Mar 31, 2008

Thanks for the info waynestatekatie. where are the clinical sites for wayne state? do you know anyone in the programs yet-both trad and accel? what is their view?

like i said i am holding up lots of faith that i will get in and i just thought i'd start a search for housing. i have a car and some friends in Novi and Ann Arbor but i figure that would be too far of a commute.

catherine_cardella · Mar 31, 2008

Here's a Detroit midtown housing website that may be helpful if you're looking for housing within a couple miles of campus. You'll really have to shop around. I used to date a guy who lived in the Woodbridge area. It's located on the other side of the Lodge freeway, just west of Trumbull. It's within walking distance from school and it seemed very nice. Many people living in that area are WSU students so they all had parties together. There's pros and cons to living in Detroit, but you're gonna have to figure out what is important to you. Personally, I don't see a problem with it, but there are just some things you shouldn't do while living down there such as walking alone at night and leaving personal and expensive items in your car. It's important to be wise about it. WayneStateKatie is right about the grocery stores; there aren't many good ones in Detroit. You're best bets for shopping might be in Dearborn or Warren/Madison Heights/Troy area (which is where I live). There are tons of Meijer stores and everything else up here. It's only about a 10-15 min. drive on I-75.

Being in nursing school, however, may alter your decision. Clinicals will not always be within the WSU area. The College of Nursing assigns students their clinical locations as opposed to letting us pick where we want to go. Aside from the DMC Hospitals, Karmanos, and Henry Ford, you may end up at Mt. Clemens General, Oakwood in Dearborn, Beaumont in Royal Oak, St. John on Moross in Detroit, Henry Ford in Wyandotte, Providence in Southfield, etc. You may put in a request for certain hospitals based on special needs like carpooling, work conflicts, and what not, but the requests may not always be granted. And they definitely don't want students to be at the same hospital more than once.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 31, 2008

I went to WSU for undergrad as well as Harper Hospital for nursing school, so know the area very well.

Unfortunately, Detroit has gotten itself into trouble and things have not been good do the crime rate has been going up. You need to pick safe places to live in, and be very aware of your surroundings.

And as mentioned above, your clinicals are no longer going to be strictly on campus or in the general area, some may be 35 miles plus away. Would highly recommend the suburbs for you, some very good ones have been mentioned above for you.

Best of luck with your schooling.

OnlyByHisGrace · Apr 1, 2008

Thank you both for the added info. that makes a whole lot of difference-knowing that clinicals aren't all done on campus. i now have an idea what to do with housing.

RN1982 · Apr 1, 2008

I lived Downriver i.e. Wyandotte/Southgate Area when I went to nursing school. If you look around you'll find good rent offers on apartments. When I graduated from HFCC I moved into the Fountain Park apartments in Southgate on Trenton road. It was next to a Meijer so when I was on my night schedule I'd go there at 3 in the morning to grocery shop. My rent wasn't bad. It included water..I think I paid about 450-500 for a one bedroom and it was a nice apartment. Huge bedroom and walkin closet.

But no matter where you move to you might have a clinical 30 minutes away.

MySimplePlan · Apr 1, 2008

I lived Downriver i.e. Wyandotte/Southgate Area when I went to nursing school. If you look around you'll find good rent offers on apartments. When I graduated from HFCC I moved into the Fountain Park apartments in Southgate on Trenton road. It was next to a Meijer so when I was on my night schedule I'd go there at 3 in the morning to grocery shop. My rent wasn't bad. It included water..I think I paid about 450-500 for a one bedroom and it was a nice apartment. Huge bedroom and walkin closet.
But no matter where you move to you might have a clinical 30 minutes away.

Hey Katie,

Did you know that apartment complex was the home of many single Detroit Tigers in the late 70's early 80's? Teens would drive through there all the time hopng to get a glimpse of some of them.

That's still a good area....lots of things around, and handy to I-75.

I hoep that new poster stays out of the Wayne State area....:uhoh21: I couldn't get out of there fast enough when I had my clinicals at the DMC. It's a crime-ridden area, and it always has been.

OnlyByHisGrace · Apr 1, 2008

Thanks Kati2005. will definitely check the area out.

OnlyByHisGrace · Apr 1, 2008

MySimpleplan, i am glad i posted here. will stay away from that area.