neighborhood
Kerrytown and Downtown Condos: Car-Optional Ann Arbor
Park the car on Thursday, walk everywhere until Monday.
Who this fits
Downtown condos and Kerrytown townhouses suit professionals who work on Main St, at Duo Security, or at a downtown law firm and want to delete the car commute. They also work for empty nesters who have downsized out of a Burns Park colonial.
They do not fit families with two kids and a dog who want a yard.
What car-optional actually looks like here
From a condo on Ashley St, you can walk to the Kerrytown Farmers Market on Saturday morning, the State Theatre on a Friday night, and Zingerman's Delicatessen on Detroit St for a Tuesday lunch without ever starting your car.
Blake Transit Center is the hub for Ann Arbor's bus network. The University routes run frequently during the school year and connect you to Central Campus, North Campus, and the medical center without parking stress.
Price range and building types
New-build downtown condos like Ashley Terrace and Liberty Lofts typically run from the mid 400s for a one bedroom to well over a million for a three bedroom with a view. HOA fees reflect elevator buildings and shared heating systems.
Kerrytown townhouses are smaller in number and trade in a wide range depending on whether the unit has a private entrance and a garage. Private garage parking adds a meaningful premium.
The commute story
From downtown, Michigan Medicine is a 20 minute walk, a 10 minute bike up Fuller Rd, or a short bus ride. The VA Ann Arbor on Fuller is on the same corridor.
For Toyota Tech Center in York Township or Domino's World HQ in Ann Arbor Township, you still need a car. Downtown parking makes that car more expensive to own than it would be in a subdivision.
Groceries, daily errands, and the Market
People of Color Owned produce at Argus Farm Stop on Packard, Sparrow Market butcher shop in Kerrytown, and the Wednesday and Saturday Farmers Market cover most of the week's cooking. Plum Market and Busch's Fresh Food Market fill the rest.
For a full car run, Costco is off Ellsworth near Briarwood Mall, about 15 minutes south.
Downsides and tradeoffs
Noise is the biggest complaint. Units over Main St hear weekend crowds until last call. South State near the stadium gets Saturday traffic in fall.
HOA assessments on older downtown buildings can hit hard when an elevator or roof goes. Ask for five years of meeting minutes and the reserve study before you sign. And guest parking downtown is a headache every time.
How it compares to the Old West Side
The Old West Side gives you a yard, a quieter street, and a 10 to 15 minute walk to the same restaurants. A downtown condo gives you zero yard maintenance, secure entry, and the shortest possible walk.
Pick downtown if you travel often or work late. Pick the Old West Side if you want the same neighborhood for the next 20 years.
More neighborhood guides
Burns Park: The Faculty and Medical Staff Classic
Why Burns Park stays priced at the top of Ann Arbor, what a buyer actually gets, and how it stacks up against nearby alternatives.
Old West Side: Buying in the Historic District
Ann Arbor's National Register district. What owners learn about renovating Victorians here, and how walkability to Main St compares to downtown living.
Ann Arbor Hills for Michigan Medicine Staff
Why senior hospital physicians and administrators favor this east-side enclave. The Huron Parkway drive pattern, what the lots look like, and what you trade off.
Saline: The Family Pick South of Ann Arbor
Top-rated schools, more square footage for the dollar, and a 20 minute commute to Michigan Medicine via State St and Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.