Living in Plymouth

2013 Plymouth Township Real Estate Value and Sales Summary

| BAKE REAL ESTATE

Screen Shot 2014-01-08 at 11.37.59 AM2013 Plymouth Township historical real estate data verifies what we’ve seen all year – values have continued to increased steadily due to limited inventory of available homes. Prices are comparable to historical highs and the recovery has been swift.  With the local economy improving dramatically and the annual cycle of new buyers combined with buyers who delayed buying during the recession, the result is a seller’s market. Recently, supply has improved slightly and homes aren’t as likely to sell instantly but time on market is always more dependent on pricing than supply/demand dynamics.

Both median sales prices and sales volume have recovered strongly to pre-recession levels. The number of sales has been increasing steadily for the past several years. If you are considering buying or selling a home in the Plymouth/Northville area in 2014, feel free to contact us and we’d be happy to discuss your plans and offer our help.  Please also visit our homepage at www.bobbake.com.

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Film of Downtown Plymouth from 1969

Video | | Carrie

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For those of you new to the Plymouth area and for long time residents alike, here’s an interesting film that was shot in 1969 (the year of my birth) on Super 8 (that’s a size of movie film) thanks to Rene Litalien, who was an 11th grader at Plymouth High School that year when he shot the video.  It shows a lot of the local businesses, cars, and beverages of the era – some of which are still around (ex. Box Bar, Wiltse’s Pharmacy). And Patrick, my car guy husband, noticed what appears to be a new Plymouth Superbird on a dealer lot! We should definitely add that song, “Small Town”, by John Mellencamp, to go with the video…

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2014 Plymouth Ice Festival (Post Polar Vortex) – This Weekend January 10-12th

| BAKE REAL ESTATE

CAM00901The 2014 Plymouth Ice Festival is coming this weekend January 10th through 12th in Downtown Plymouth centered around Kellogg Park. You’ll be able to see amazing ice sculptures throughout downtown – plenty of fun for the whole family.  The Polar Vortex will be past us and temperatures should be back to reasonable highs.  For more information, go to www.plymouthicefestival.org.

The Ice Festival is one of several street festivals in Downtown Plymouth that take place throughout the year. The area is very walkable with plenty of parks, shops, restaurants, and entertainment – along with plenty of parking. Plymouth also has beautiful residential tree-lined streets with lots of gorgeous historic homes making it one of the area’s prettiest small towns. If you want to learn more about buying or selling a home in Plymouth, please visit our official homepage at www.bobbake.com.

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Just Sold: 48029 Colony Farms Circle – 2 Bedrooms Waterfront Condo in Plymouth Township

| BAKE REAL ESTATE

Exterior 2.JPGColony Farms Association in Plymouth Township is one of this area’s unique treasures with a storied history and a gentle balance of single family residences and condominiums – all enjoying the pastoral common areas, pond, and walkable streets. Some of the condos, like this one our client recently purchased, enjoy serene views of Walden Pond and the surrounding Willow trees.

Originally established in 1927 by a prominent Detroit doctor, the property developed as a vertically integrated weaving colony for shepherds, weavers, fabric designers,  interior decorators, distributors, and their families. In the 1970s, the property was  developed into the subdivision we have today. But elements of a farming past remain including the original barn, and Walden Pond mentioned above. Since the farm was not mechanized, the pond was dug using animal and human power to feed the crops and inhabitants of the farm. Looking out from the balcony of this condo, you would never realize that a thriving weaving and farming operation once took place here.

Gracia’s Greenhouse – A 3 Generation Family Business

| Carrie

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Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, my dad makes a journey to a farm/greenhouse in Belleville.  He comes back with wreaths, and 50 or so feet of beautiful roping made of cedar and pine.  He always goes by himself.  He prides himself on finding hard-working people who produce excellent products or services that might not be well-known to the general public. This year, I asked him if I could join him in the venture, as we needed some extra greens for the office. It was a cold, yet clear day – the perfect “Black Friday” for some greens shopping!

I let my dad navigate by memory rather than programming my GPS, as I would normally do to get to somewhere in an area I am unfamiliar with.  He pointed out landmarks to help me remember where to go in the future (though I’m not really planning to go without him).  It was a windy path we took through small towns that I’d never before seen, although it only took about 20 minutes from Plymouth.

We found a driveway down which there were several greenhouses and warehouse buildings behind a house.  There wasn’t a sign anywhere that I saw.  I understand from my dad that they do a lot of business at the Royal Oak and Ann Arbor Farmer’s Markets. We saw a few trucks with shelves of wreaths, swags, greens and hanging kissing balls.  We entered a warehouse with more of the same.  Everything smelled delightful of cedar & pine, some of my favorite winter fragrances.

Bessie, who had most of my dad’s greens already to go, greeted us.  She is the second-generation owner.  Now even her son is involved in the business while he attends college, as well.  We then entered a second greenhouse where about 5 more women were assembling wreaths.  There were two family dogs – a black and a yellow lab that were happy to get some more attention from us.  Dolores, the original founder of the business, greeted us and posed for a few photos.  She told us how the business started.  When she was pregnant with Bessie, her oldest child, she had just gotten married.  As Christmas approached, she wanted to buy her husband a Christmas present with her own money but she had none, so she started the company – selling greens to farmer’s markets.  And she was able to buy him a gift!

Festive Movies at Plymouth’s Downtown Penn Theatre

| Stephanie

grandopeningOne of the landmark attractions of downtown Plymouth, the Penn Theatre opened in 1941 and continues to offer locals and visitors alike a great selection of motion pictures – all for just $3 a ticket.  The movie house has been steadily upgraded over the past several years including digital projection and sound, a new marquee, re-imagined murals, and a complete auditorium renovation.

So if you are trying to think of a way to entertain everyone over the holidays, visit the Penn Theatre for some Christmas classics. The movies Elf, A Christmas Story, and Polar Express will all be playing these last weeks leading up to Christmas.

On December 13-15th bring your kids, friends, parents and cousins to see Buddy the Elf on the big screen once again! Syrup anyone? A Christmas Story will be featured December 19th and 20th. See your town cemented in history by the Red Ryder BB Gun (manufactured at the Daisy Air Rifle Factory) Ralphie so desperately wanted to see under his Christmas tree. December 21-22 the Polar Express will roll into town. Travel to the North Pole with Tom Hanks right to Santa’s own home and believe in the magic of Christmas once again!

Tickets are always $3.00/person. What a treat! Check for showtimes here.

Afterwards, you can visit Santa in the park and enjoy a hot chocolate at one of the downtown cafes. Check Plymouth’s website for more Christmas and Holiday activities!

Stephanie

City of Plymouth Website

Could this be the new home of Plymouth’s Post Office?

| BAKE REAL ESTATE

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Renovation work has begun on 885 Penniman at the corner of Penniman and Harvey.  The Post Office is planning to relocate here from their current location in their historic building across the street. The new site was previously a convenience store and lately a vacant building and parking lot. With this change, we will see new life on this downtown corner lot as the hub of small town living in Plymouth. Plans for the old Post Office building include a gourmet marketplace which we are also eagerly anticipating!

Now Open! Alpine Chocolat Haus Stirring to Open in Downtown Plymouth

| BAKE REAL ESTATE

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Now open, the Alpine Chocolat Haus brings another flavor to the downtown Plymouth experience. Although you can buy chocolate and ice cream at any number of enticing shops in the City, you won’t find one with a better location – right across from the Park! The interior design of the shop is modern and inviting. The displays are clean and contemporary while the brick wall adds warmth. The ice-cream display is even at ‘kid-height’ so the young ones can see the frozen treats more easily! At the far end of the store, there’s even a lounge area with comfortable chairs, wi-fi, TV, and iPads for the kids to play on.

The Alpine Chocolat Haus is poised for a stirring grand opening in downtown Plymouth. With construction work nearing completion, the sign was recently unveiled and it does look very tasty good. Posters covering the windows have all the prerequisite marketing language appropriate to Plymouth – words like ‘Artisan’ and ‘Michigan Made’ certainly will resonate with locals as the town gradually shifts slightly more upscale.

With several locations already in Northern Michigan, you can learn more about the Alpine Chocolat Haus by clicking here.

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20th Annual Lightfest Kicks Off the Holiday Season on Hines Drive

| Stephanie

lightsIt’s time to roll in the Holiday Cheer! This year marks the 20th anniversary of the longest drive-thru holiday light display in the Midwest.  Spanning more than 4 miles and 45 spectacular displays, it’s sure to become a holiday tradition if it’s not yours already. The Wayne County Lightfest will run from now until December 31st. For more information, click here. 

Stephanie

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The Fall of the Plymouth Daisy Wall

| BAKE REAL ESTATE

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Plymouth’s Daisy Wall was demolished today after years of debate over what to do with this piece of Plymouth history.  Originally part of the Daisy Air Rifle factory, most of the site was demolished and rebuilt as condos but one wall remained standing.  The plan was to incorporate this wall into one of the newer buildings so at least some of the condos would incorporate part of the original buildings. But as the market for condos weakened in the mid-2000s, construction stopped. Various parties around town proposed alternatives to keep the wall. The strongest proposal was a city park and pavilion. But ultimately, none were approved and the site was sold to a new developer and today, the wall came down.

18th Annual Great Lakes Chili Cook Off Sunday October 6th in Downtown Plymouth

| Stephanie

 plymouth-chili-cook-off1Head down to Kellogg Park tomorrow for the Great Lakes Regional Chili Cook Off! Along with the chili contest there will be a motorcycle show, kid’s activities, live music and other food to experience! For more information, please visit: www.greatlakeschili.com

Canton-Plymouth Mettetal Airport Open House this Saturday

| BAKE REAL ESTATE

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Mettetal Airport in Plymouth/Canton is having an open house this Saturday, September 28th from 10am – 3pm. Our own local airport will have general aviation, vintage, and model airplanes on display.  There will also be helicopter rides available too. For anyone interested in aircraft, flying, and/or learning to fly, this would be great opportunity to have a ground level look at some light aircraft close to home. For more info, click here.