The Vine Neighborhood is a neighborhood in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Its boundaries are West Lovell Street to the north, Oakland Drive to the west, Crosstown Parkway to the south, and South Burdick Street to the east.
Contents
History
One of the oldest neighborhoods in Kalamazoo, the Vine has houses dating to the 1840s. During the early 1900s, businesses in the Vine flourished, including a variety of grocery and retail spaces. During the Great Depression, many houses built for single families were split into multiple residences. In the 1970s, the neighborhood became a destination for students attending nearby Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College at the downtown campus.
In 2009, about 80% of residents were students, but many students have moved to new apartments on the west side of town, leaving Vine apartments vacant.
In December 2009, a neighborhood revitalization plan was unveiled to reduce crime and improve the area’s commercial and economic development. Landlords have been improving their properties to attract students to the area.
In 2009, the Vine was described by the national magazine This Old House as one of the best places for families to buy an old house. The magazine cited the Vine's proximity to downtown, schools, parks, hiking trails and playgrounds.
Education
The Vine Neighborhood is within the boundary of Kalamazoo Public Schools. Schools in the neighborhood include El Sol Elementary, Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center and a Montessori School.
Transportation
The Kalamazoo Transportation Center downtown is served by Kalamazoo Metro Transit, Amtrak and Greyhound. Local buses run by Kalamazoo Metro Transit take these routes through the Vine: