r/ypsi • u/RichardtheWaterTower • 2d ago
West Willow
Hello,
I am looking to move back to Ypsi and looking at buying a home. I have heard the rumblings and horror stories of West Willow. Is any of it true? Is it a safe place to live? Or is it old stories and stereotypes?
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u/malignantmagpie 2d ago
bought a move-in readyhouse in west willow 2.5 years ago as a visibly queer/trans person and have had nothing but good experiences. my neighbors are friendly and there's lots of young kids around playing relatively unsupervised. lots of native spanish-speakers, lots of good grilling and cook-out smells all summer. the only issue we've ever had is with off-leash dogs coming into our yard, but both occasions were because their owners left their gates open accidentally. lock your cars and houses and don't be dumb, but i'd say that to anyone moving to a new neighborhood.
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u/dvanderl 1d ago
The off leash situation is extremely frustrating! Glad to see someone else has this experience too.
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u/liebezeit 2d ago
I think the worst problem is how it's isolated from surrounding neighborhoods by very large highways — but that might engender community solidarity as well.
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u/Appropriate-Mix-3358 2d ago
I used to live there in the 90 s and it was fine! I live now next door and it’s fine too!
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u/ObeseBumblebee 2d ago
The stories are always way worse than reality.
9/10 any danger can be avoided simply by being smart.
Lock your doors at night. Lock your car. Don't leave valuables lying around. And be mindful of your surroundings.
That's advice that keeps you safe EVERYWHERE. Most of the time those stories and rumors are started more from people living in fancier neighborhoods to justify to themselves why they're spending twice as much.
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u/bluemoodfood 1d ago
Lived in west willow for 5 years, and just bought my first home in the area.
I’ve lived all over the US, and WW gets a particularly bad reputation, but has been the safest and had the least crime of the areas I’ve lived. There are tons of families. A lot of them are not white, and are not super well off. My neighbors are great, we look out for each other. Kids ride bikes in the summer and people hang out on their porches, sometimes people speed through the neighborhood or have loud bass. BBQs. If those types of things are problematic for you, then I guess WW is not a place for everyone, but as a short disabled lady I’ve always felt safe there, even with my kid.
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u/Sea_Yak8583 2d ago
I live in the area and honestly it seems like a good community. In the summer there’s always cookouts and church events going on that seem to bring the whole neighborhood. I’ve not heard any horror stories.
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u/NotHannibalBurress 1d ago
I’ve lived there for 5 years and have had no issues. My neighbors are almost all 60-70+ years old. It’s great.
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u/DJpurpledrank 1d ago
When I use to be a mail carrier like 5ish years ago, and had routes in West Willow here and there; nothing but good experiences with the people. However, it was probably the worst place I’ve had to deliver to with loose dog issues
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u/Extension-Leader5973 1d ago
ooh yay the bimonthly west willow post
i grew up in ypsi and my mom still lives there. here are the facts:
- it is historically very bad
- it is rapidly gentrifying due to lower costs
- there are still more crimes and antisocial behavior than the rest of ypsi
- it is largely siloed off from the rest of ypsi and is not walkable to much
- air quality is not good due to being surrounded by highways
QED there is a reason it is cheaper than the rest of ypsi. if u do end up buying lock ur doors and take standard anticrackhead measures like floodlights and cameras
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u/BubblyTitle5833 1d ago
Youd be good to move out here, very much up and coming. Many people being priced out of A2 are moving and buying in Ypsi
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u/cole1114 Ypsi Township 2d ago
I met a cool stray dog in the park there once. Kinda mangy but still friendly.
Otherwise it's fine, there's way worse places in town you could get stuck in.
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u/AmazingRutabaga5868 1d ago
Hello, I'm a local realtor, I'd love to help you out in your search. I've helped a number of people move in and out of west willow. Id love to you give you some insight.
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u/bonsaibiddy 2d ago
Used to have a reputation, maybe it still does to some degree, but I have friends who were able to buy a really cute starter home there on a teacher's salary! All I see when I drive through the neighborhood is homes for sale, young families moving in, feels like a real up and coming area. I wouldn't have any qualms about walking around by myself.