Curbed Cup Elite Eight: (7) Sherwood Forest vs. (15) East English Village

(7) Sherwood Forest

This sweet little neighborhood near Livernois was a strong write-in candidate this year, with many testimonials sent in by residents and fans. We understand. It has well maintained, unique houses on big lots — a great neighborhood to drive around and admire, and to live in according to its residents. Will it get out the vote and make a run for the Curbed Cup this year?

“This is easy for me. Detroit’s best neighborhood is Sherwood Forest.

Most beautiful houses — and because it’s an historic district, it’s the most architecturally cohesive nabe as well.

But a neighborhood isn’t just homes, it’s also people. Sherwood’s community can’t be beat. It’s beautifully diverse — different races, and a range of ages from birth to 90s. There are owners who’ve been here 40-50 years, and newcomers being welcomed who’ve been waiting anxiously for a house to come on the market.

From neighborhood parties to caroling and luminarias lighting the streets at Christmas, from our wildly successful bid to raise money for period-appropriate street lights to the charming inscriptions that neighbors placed on plaques on those street lights. Parties for children, our Little Free Libraries, our pocket parks, running clubs, cycling clubs, moms’ clubs. From our twice-annual neighborhood clean-ups to regular meet-and-greets at neighbors’ homes, it’s really like a village within a city. People are friendly, they’re helpful, they’re respectful, they watch out for each other.

We keep up with each other and make recommendations via our Facebook page and our neighborhood newsletter, the Tattler, which has been printed since the ’20s or ’30s.

SF is the best of small-town America in big-city America. It’s a neighborhood that believes in Detroit, and kept the flame burning even through the tough times.”

(15) East English Village

Whenever we talk about affordable single-family homes in Detroit, East English Village always comes up as a good option. We had quite a few write-in votes for EEV this year. This eastside neighborhood is full of charming single family homes and duplexes, and we’ve seen many renovated and move-in ready this year. It has a strong neighborhood association, and it’s close to a lot of retail and services (it would be nice to have more of that throughout Detroit, FYI). It might not be as trendy as other neighborhoods, but it doesn’t need to be. Many love to call East English Village home.

“I have lived in East English Village for 17 years and absolutely love it. It is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city. Neighbors look out for each other on a daily basis. And our homes are absolutely gorgeous. You will NOT find the level of craftmanship in the suburbs, or even in other Detroit neigborhoods.”