Ann Arbor information please

[k-s-p]

I’d like to hear what you guys think about Ann Arbor and the area. Things I know: it’s a progressive town; it’s a college town obviously; crime rate is surprisingly low; has a progressive attitude toward Cannabis; and has Hash Bash. I know UM dominates the town but that the east and west parts of town are different as this is where the regular residents live(?).

I’d like to know about things like housing availability and rent and utility prices. A quick look and common sense tells me it is going to be pricey and scarce in the town proper. I’m wondering about living further out in the country to the west of town, outside of I-94, and west of US 23, if there are cheaper, older, decent places to rent out there, or even in suburbs farther out there.

Also interested in hearing about attitudes of landlords or rental property management people regarding growing small scale in the properties, just a couple of tents, nothing causing property damage of course.

What are opportunities like for recreation, e.g., walking the dog out in the country or at least in decent parks. Same question for exercising, e.g. running and cycling. Looks like there is a decent amount of public land northwest of AA, so that might be a decent spot to look for housing.

I’m assuming the cops are not so bad in Ann Arbor, and I’m guessing Washtenau County too, but what are the piggies like out in the areas I’m asking about? How difficult is it to get a mmj card in this area? Or is it even warranted?

I’ll appreciate anything and everything you can share. I’m sure I haven’t hit everything here. I just like to do my homework before I even think about applying for something. Many thanks

 

[watts]

pretty expensive last i researched.. dexter or howell looks like a nice place in the country outside of ann arbor.. other then that i don't know much.

 

[Treetroit City]

Just do it! If you can get in at the UofM you are all set. Yes expensive but if you don't mind a commute you'll be fine.

As far as the town goes, students can get to be annoying but the summers are great when they go home. Very liberal attitude from most residents toward most things, gays, cannabis, war ect...Certainly democratic in voting nature.

Lots of parks in town and out. Not all dog friendly but there are those as well.

Very good culture as far as food art drink ect goes.

 

[paladin420]

Just do it! If you can get in at the UofM you are all set. Yes expensive but if you don't mind a commute you'll be fine.

As far as the town goes, students can get to be annoying but the summers are great when they go home. Very liberal attitude from most residents toward most things, gays, cannabis, war ect...Certainly democratic in voting nature.

Lots of parks in town and out. Not all dog friendly but there are those as well.

Very good culture as far as food art drink ect goes.

^^^ yeah that.

get up by brighton and Howell and you will find reasonable living. lots of parks.
some very decent homes for sale cheap. repo's, short sales etc. even in AA I saw some that really really needed work and should be low priced.

yeah get your card. Down there it should be easy enough.

good thread tagged

 

[k-s-p]

Just do it! If you can get in at the UofM you are all set. Yes expensive but if you don't mind a commute you'll be fine.

As far as the town goes, students can get to be annoying but the summers are great when they go home. Very liberal attitude from most residents toward most things, gays, cannabis, war ect...Certainly democratic in voting nature.

Lots of parks in town and out. Not all dog friendly but there are those as well.

Very good culture as far as food art drink ect goes.

Right on. I don't mind a commute at all. Any suggestions on outlaying areas? I would not mind being able to walk\cycle to work\campus, just the price. Also don't care to hear drunken undergrads every night, and I'm not a city guy. But I could deal for a year. Especially thinking about those coeds

^^^ yeah that.

get up by brighton and Howell and you will find reasonable living. lots of parks.
some very decent homes for sale cheap. repo's, short sales etc. even in AA I saw some that really really needed work and should be low priced.

yeah get your card. Down there it should be easy enough.

good thread tagged

Thanks Pal. I'm going to get my stuff together and send it in this weekend - on-line applications make it so easy. Checked the commute from Brighton to campus - 25 minutes. Right on, very doable.

I'm also applying for a slot at farther north, and something in the UP. Something has to shake loose and break my way eventually. Ideally I could go straight to da Yoop, but actually a year or so in AA could pay some major dividends down the road. And truth be told I will likely have to detour at first anyway, so it should be in MI instead of down in the Dirty.

I'm a SEC fan, but it would be very cool to watch some football games at The Big House.

Thanks guys, keep the input coming, I do appreciate it very much.

 

[MIway]

If u r willing to drive 20-30 minutes one way (not that bad)... U can find some really nice and private country homes, but on a well. Some nice lake communities as well. U can even find properties with a lot of hunting land to boot... 30+ minutes out... Go north or west a2.

Some of the near cities not so bad, and can find a gem spot if ya dig...like pittsfield or canton. Going south out of washtenaw gets u into some farm like land too.

I say go private, and keep a city flat for the girls... ;-)

 

[k-s-p]

If u r willing to drive 20-30 minutes one way (not that bad)... U can find some really nice and private country homes, but on a well. Some nice lake communities as well. U can even find properties with a lot of hunting land to boot... 30+ minutes out... Go north or west a2.

Some of the near cities not so bad, and can find a gem spot if ya dig...like pittsfield or canton. Going south out of washtenaw gets u into some farm like land too.

I say go private, and keep a city flat for the girls... ;-)

I like the way you think

It sounds like a good area and like I'll be able to find something or somewhere to live that suits me. I don't mind a commute like that, and I'd rather have well water as long as it's good water. Love the idea of being on or close to lakes for fishing and other things. Many thanks for the info

 

[PermaBuzz]

Looks like there is a decent amount of public land northwest of AA, so that might be a decent spot to look for housing.

NW Washtenaw County is a great place to be. Its part of the Irish Hills, considered the "Highlands" of southeast Michigan. The most public land, forests, swamps and hills are to be found here.
Bonus: the people who live here are still quite liberal in spite of being out in the country. Cant think of any other place in MI that is both rural and liberal like that.

Other surrounding areas including Brighton and Howell are far more drab in comparison. Nothing wrong with them per se - just typical midwest cookie cutter suburbia.

 

[watts]

taxes are much cheaper outside the county if you plan on buying. like $4k cheaper.

 

[Cannastyle]

Im going to confirm the Brighton area....Pinkney as well....you could also look into Plymouth Canton, and Northville....as they are are all just a short drive from A2....You could try Ypsi...but that is a little to trashy for me...

Salem Twp would be a great spot to look for a rural location....same with Pittsfield Twp....you could always try south to with Chelsea, Saline etc...

There are plenty of good locations in the area....even OC ain't too bad anymore....

Med card is pretty easy as long as you have qualifying conditions...lol...

Good luck dude!

 

[Treetroit City]

NW Washtenaw County is a great place to be. Its part of the Irish Hills, considered the "Highlands" of southeast Michigan. The most public land, forests, swamps and hills are to be found here.
Bonus: the people who live here are still quite liberal in spite of being out in the country. Cant think of any other place in MI that is both rural and liberal like that.

Other surrounding areas including Brighton and Howell are far more drab in comparison. Nothing wrong with them per se - just typical midwest cookie cutter suburbia.

Not quite. The Irish hills are not in Washtenaw County.

The Irish Hills is an area of land located roughly in southeastern Jackson County and northwest Lenawee County.

 

[PermaBuzz]

its true that the hilliest parts are in jackson Cty etc. - thus "the Irish Hills".

But the same kind of glacier hilly remains/pothole swamp mix extends quite further in a northeasterly direction. Its where a lot of greenbelt and parkland now lies. Guess it was never the primest farmland in years past so it wasnt developed as much into the farmland grid like so much of the midwest.

 

[danut]

If you going to grow, stay in Washtenaw Co.

Brighton and Pinkney areas are in Livingston co. Livingston is still trying to be tough on mmj. They got a point to prove still.

 

[k-s-p]

Right on guys. This is all great information and I appreciate it a lot. Sorry I've been away for a bit.

This looks like a nice place and I have to admit I've been surprised as I thought it would be touched in a bad way by some of the surrounding urban areas- no offense to any of the urbanites intended, I'm just a rural kind of guy

hell. it's all good, it's Michigan ffs

 

[Treetroit City]

Right on guys. This is all great information and I appreciate it a lot. Sorry I've been away for a bit.

This looks like a nice place and I have to admit I've been surprised as I thought it would be touched in a bad way by some of the surrounding urban areas- no offense to any of the urbanites intended, I'm just a rural kind of guy

I applied for the position so it's wait and see now. I'm also applying for something up in Allendale Township. If none of these come through, it's paradigm shift time and I might be installing your digital TV or delivering your frozen junk food. Or just plowing your parking lot and cutting your grass. Or putting you on lunker walleye or lakers hell. it's all good, it's Michigan ffs

There's been a long standing saying that Ann Arbor is 28 square miles surrounded by reality.

It is truly a special place, not quite as special as it used to be but still a rare place in this day and age.

 

[k-s-p]

Thanks Third Coast. We'll see if it pans out. I think I would like living there for a while, anyway.

 

[k-s-p]

Kochville Township

Kochville Township

I've got a question about another area, I asked this in another thread some time back, and I can't start a thread for every town or township in Michigan so I'll ask it again here.

Any thoughts on this area and living in Bay City or out west of Kochville Township? Thanks folks

 

[Hermanthegerman]

Hello KSP,
of course I can´t say nothing about living in Ann Arbor but it´s funny that you wrote about Bay City! As I was a kid, in school, I watched my "Atlas" (book of maps) and dreamed about the USA and saw that there was a town called Bay City .
By this time I was a fan of the Bay City Rollers.

 

[k-s-p]

I'm going in for the tri-cities position too. Nothing ventured nothing gained, beggars and choosers and all of that. Looks like some of the stuff along Lake Huron might be nice. Bet there is some good fishing there.

Hello KSP,
of course I can´t say nothing about living in Ann Arbor but it´s funny that you wrote about Bay City! As I was a kid, in school, I watched my "Atlas" (book of maps) and dreamed about the USA and saw that there was a town called Bay City .
By this time I was a fan of the Bay City Rollers.

I remember them too, from Scotland if I remember correctly.

 

[MIway]

just to pop in again...last week on the local news they mentioned that grand rapids made a top 15 list for cities. Dont know what specifically the list was for, but they mentioned lits of jobs and i think the lowest unemployemnt in mi. Iv heard great things about that city here and there. Just to mention. Peace