Where small-town charm blends the past and present

• The historic metropolis middle of Downtown Rochester has a excessive occupancy fee within the prime 90%.
• Greater than 20 buildings in Primary Avenue are greater than 50 years outdated.
• The Vacation Gentle Present comprises buildings within the metropolis middle adorned with greater than 1 million dazzling lights.

There are lots of particular locations to name residence round Metro Detroit. To let you know about them, the Detroit Free Press neighborhoods in our state and area profiles to provide some perception into what strikes them.

This week we deal with Rochester in Oakland County, a historic metropolis the place an enthralling middle and trendy life come collectively, combining the previous with the current.

Attraction: Rochester is a full of life metropolis with a appeal of a small metropolis, surrounded on three sides by Rochester Hills. The historic metropolis middle alongside Primary Avenue has a wide range of distinctive firms, many housed in well-preserved Nineteenth-century buildings registered as historic places. Greater than 20 buildings in Primary Avenue are greater than 50 years outdated, which contributes to the wealthy character of town.

In recent times, Rochester has seen the event of luxurious lofts and condominiums that supply trendy dwelling choices within the coronary heart of this flowering neighborhood.

Native info: Rochester is a metropolis of three.8 sq. miles with a inhabitants of 13,033. Initially established as a village in 1869, it turned a metropolis in 1967. Along with Rochester Hills and Oakland Township, it varieties the Better Rochester neighborhood. (US Census)

Visitors could be heavy throughout rush hour, particularly on Rochester Street-Primary Avenue and the encircling roads with two lanes. In mild site visitors is the middle of Detroit a couple of 40 -minute drive from Rochester. For extra info, go to www.ci.rochester.mi.us, the Website of the city.

Neighborhoods: Rochester affords a various mixture of dwelling kinds, starting from restored homes within the Victorian and craftsman period of the Nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to ranches and settlers from the Sixties and later. The town can be the house of contemporary luxurious homes, rather more than 3000 sq. toes and with three-car garages.

Along with single -family houses, there are numerous condominiums and residences in Rochester. In 2024, single -family sale from single -family houses from $ 229,250 to $ 2,468,000, in line with Linda Rea from Actual Property One in Rochester.

New residential developments proceed to increase within the metropolis, with live-work flex areas, luxurious terraced homes, buildings with a number of households, properties for blended use with workplace house on the bottom ground and further single-family houses.

Parks and Recreation: Rochester has 19 -plus parks and amenities, with 97.6 hectares of recreation room, as set out within the Grasp Plan of town 2022. Leisure amenities embody climbing trails, numerous plot, sand volleyball courts, a pond with skates within the winter, illuminated tennis courts, softball courts and a nature middle.

Two latest additions have improved accessibility and inclusiveness within the parks of town:

• Memorial Grove All Capacies Park, “The forest“: Final yr, this playground accomplished, was designed to supply leisure alternatives for youngsters with disabilities.
• Renovated Ludlow Park In Rochester’s Municipal Park there’s a barrier -free, full alternative park that features sensory gear.

Rochester additionally organizes quite a few neighborhood occasions all year long, in line with the Rochester Downtown Development Authority (DDA). One of the crucial well-liked is The big bright light showThe place buildings within the metropolis middle are adorned with greater than 1 million dazzling vacation lights, making a festive and enchanting ambiance.

Supplementary, The Market + De GrahamA brand new raised farmers market and a neighborhood assembly that features a efficiency section, intensive indoor/outside market areas and it’s anticipated that extra is anticipated within the fall.

Rochester and Rochester Hills work collectively on joint recreation packages and share the middle of the dad or mum Individuals’ Fee (OPC). Furthermore, the Rochester Hills Public Library Shants residents of Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township.

Taxes: $ 32.50 per $ 1,000 of the taxable worth of a home within the Rochester district. A $ 450,800 home (median worth) with a taxable worth of $ 225,400 would have actual property tax of $ 7,325.

Procuring and eating: Downtown Rochester affords a full of life store and eating room, with a constantly excessive occupancy fee within the prime 90%, in line with metropolis officers, who mentioned that new firms proceed to open within the few accessible areas, which contributes to the full of life ambiance of the world.

Industries and employers: Endo Pharmaceutical” Pfizer Pharmaceutical” Onestream softwareand Frank Rewold & Sons.

Public security: In 2024, Rochester reported two burglaries, 5 car thefts and 39 assaults, with out robberies and no murders. (Rochester Police Division)

Public transport: Older people transport55 years or older, disabled and veterans, 248-652-4780.

Perception into the neighborhood: “Rochester is known as a hidden gem for many who are in search of a full of life however peaceable place to name residence. The neighborhood is hospitable and the colleges are glorious,” says Eva Olague of Rochester. “From picturesque parks to thriving native firms, there’s all the time one thing to do. Whether or not you’re elevating a household or wish to settle, Rochester is a perfect alternative for anybody in search of a house without end!”

In keeping with Rea, the commonest suggestions they hear from clients is their appreciation for the robust sense of neighborhood of Rochester, glorious faculties, stunning parks and the walkable metropolis middle. Many say, “We not solely purchased a home, we discovered a spot to belong.”

“That’s what makes Rochester so particular,” provides Rea.

Brendel Hightower writes about actual property and different subjects for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhighttower@freepress.com. Assist for native journalism: Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.