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Located smack dab between Bagley, University District, and Detroit’s iconic Livernois Avenue of Fashion, Fitzgerald is a historic living community spanning Wayne County’s 48221 and 48238 ZIP codes.
Backed by a reputation of being one of Detroit’s most active neighborhoods as far as urban revitalization goes, Fitzgerald is a place defined by its stately 1920s through 1950s homes, most of which are charming brick bungalows, colonials, and duplexes with their original fireplaces, arched entryways, and hardwood flooring.
Bit by bit, what was once a scattering of blighted, vacant homes on overgrown lots is steadily transforming into a model of growth and hopeful renewal that is going a long way in attracting new homeowners, young professionals, families looking to put down roots, and returning Detroiters.
Cruise the blocks near McNichols (Six Mile) or Livernois (the Avenue of Fashion) and you’ll see it for yourself: newly renovated homes right beside those waiting for a second lease on life, lush community gardens on what were once vacant plots of land, and construction crews working around the clock to restore neighborhood pride.
The Fitzgerald Revitalization Project
One of the Fitzgerald neighborhoods most defining features is the Fitzgerald Revitalization Project, a program that is busy transforming abandoned lots into valuable community assets.
A few of the most recognizable rehabs include:
- The Origami House, an eclectic, one-of-a-kind community hub re-envisioned by some of Detroit’s best local architects
- Ella Fitzgerald Park, a gorgeous neighborhood green space with playgrounds, picnic areas, and trails
- Endless urban gardens and farms helping increase food access while decreasing blight
This isn’t just redevelopment…it’s residents stepping up to shape the future of their community with their own two hands.
Culture, Education, and Everyday Life
Fitzgerald’s close proximity to major educational landmarks such as the University of Detroit Mercy and the Marygrove Conservancy inject the area with academia, a heavy arts presence, sports, and even youth mentorship programs.
As for recreation like cafés, dessert spots, boutiques, and mom-and-pop shops, head on over to Livernois/the Avenue of Fashion, which is also home to the legendary jazz music lounge, Baker’s Lounge.
Final Word
Fitzgerald isn’t a neighborhood defined by its challenges.
Instead, residents have taken the reins and are rewriting the neighborhood’s narrative themselves – proving Detroit’s comeback is being led by everyday people with a stake in its bright future.
The atmosphere here is one of hope and possibility: change coming to pass through collective cooperation, creative vision, and the raw determination to build a better future for the next generation to come.
Expect to find endless churches, schools, and block clubs acting as vital community pillars, anchoring Fitzgerald’s social signature with youth programs, neighborhood cleanups, movie nights in the park, and outreach initiatives.
Should you visit, start by heading over to Ella Fitzgerald Park.
Watch families enjoying the outdoors together, children climbing play structures while neighbors chat across benches, then take a stroll through the streets by foot and take in the lush community gardens, rehab crews busy transforming blighted properties, and the promise of what’s still to come.
Fitzgerald is Detroit in motion: far from finished, far from perfect, yet still absolutely full of life and hope.