Mature trees stand guard at LaSalle Park. Welcome to LaSalle Park a green heart in Detroit. It was established in 1908. LaSalle Park is a focal point. It is surrounded by tree-lined streets. These streets feature homes built between 1911 and 1938.
Originally, New York artist Charles A. Platt designed the park. Platt brought Italianate influence to America. He recreated Italian Gardens from Renaissance and Baroque palaces. Walkways cross the park straight and diagonally. You can see wide expanses of grass. Benches are placed beneath the mature trees.
LaSalle Gardens is a historic neighborhood. It is located on Detroit’s West Side. This is about four miles from downtown. Colonel Frank J. Hecker developed it. It sits north of St. Agnes Catholic Church. The neighborhood became a wealthy enclave. Large homes were built here. Some were 4000-square-foot mansions. Others were 3000 to 4000-square-foot duplexes. Aretha Franklin’s childhood home is nearby. Henry Ford Hospital borders the area.
LaSalle Gardens is primarily residential. Over 200 single and two-family houses stand here. These show upper and middle-class architecture. They were designed and built in Detroit. LaSalle Gardens is bounded by several streets. Virginia Park is to the north. West Grand Boulevard is to the south. Fourteenth Street is on the east. Linwood Avenue is to the west. LaSalle Gardens is part of the greater Virginia Park Community.
The LaSalle Gardens Community Association hosts events. They organize Motorcity Makeover projects. There is an annual Perennial Exchange. A Summer Cookout brings neighbors together. Halloween Treats and Greets delights children. Christmas Caroling in the Park spreads holiday cheer. Quarterly Community meetings keep residents informed.
LaSalle Gardens real estate has a median price of over $300000. The average rent is around $1400. Many homes were built before 1939. This gives the neighborhood a historic charm. Vacant homes are unfortunately a fact of life here.
Interestingly, LaSalle Gardens has a high concentration of people with Scottish and Belgian ancestry. The most common language is English. Many residents work in executive, management, and professional occupations.
LaSalle College Park which seems to be the area nearby has a dense suburban feel. The median home value is lower around $48000. Median rent is about $1000.
LaSalle Park serves as a peaceful retreat. It is a reminder of Detroit’s architectural history. The community events foster a strong neighborhood spirit. Take a stroll through LaSalle Park. Imagine the families who have enjoyed this space for over a century.