Whether you’re looking to rent or buy, Kalamazoo has something for everyone. From elegant historic homes to modern downtown apartments to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian homes, Kalamazoo’s diverse neighborhoods offer a wide range of options that suit all tastes.
Kalamazoo is divided in to twenty-one neighborhoods, each with unique characteristics and a shared sense of community. Seven neighborhoods are adjacent to Kalamazoo’s growing downtown, which is often the focus of community events and activities. Downtown Kalamazoo is home to museums, libraries, art, live music, breweries, restaurants, theatre, festivals, parades, special events… and the recent addition of Western Michigan University’s Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Healthy Living Campus are just two examples of exciting developments happening downtown.
Many neighborhoods are represented by a neighborhood association that supports the needs of their residents and acts as a liaison with the City Commission. The City also partners with a variety of public and private organizations to oversee community projects and maintain safe, clean, and vibrant neighborhoods which are essential to maintaining the strength of Kalamazoo.
Click on the map below to learn more about Kalamazoo's neighborhoods and connect with neighborhood associations. Other community associations are listed below as well.
Other Associations
Gateway Coalition/South Street Historic District - The South Street Historic District is bounded by Academy Street to the north, West Lovell Street to the south, South Westnedge Avenue to the east, and Oakland Drive to the west. This neighborhood is also a component of the Central Business District. No meetings are regularly scheduled at this time.
Homecrest Circle Neighborhood Association - The Homecrest Circle Neighborhood is located west of Portage Street, between Roseland and Homecrest Streets. It is a small, residential setting with fewer than 40 homes in the western portion of the Milwood Neighborhood. Portage Creek runs along the neighborhood’s western boundary. Meetings are scheduled on an as-needed basis.
Lakeside Beach - The Lakeside Beach Corporation is a private, nonprofit organization that exists to protect the interests of property owners with legal access rights to Lakeside Beach on Whites Lake. Their annual meeting is held on the 1st Monday in May at 6:00 p.m.
Parker/Duke Neighborhood Association - The Parker/Duke Neighborhood is a moderate income neighborhood of mostly single-family homes. The neighborhood is also home to several apartment complexes, a charter school, and two private schools. It lies within the boundaries of the larger South Westnedge Neighborhood. The Parker/Duke boundaries are Whites Road to the north, Kilgore Road to the south, South Westnedge Avenue to the east, and Bronson Boulevard to the west. Their annual meeting is held in April.
Parkwyn Village - Parkwyn Village is located on the west side of Kalamazoo in the southwest corner of the Winchell Neighborhood. Winchell surrounds Parkwyn on its north, east, and south sides. The area’s western boundary is Asylum Lake. Parkwyn Village consists of approximately two dozen single-family period residences along two streets: Parkwyn and Taliesin Drives. The Parkwyn Village Association exists to promote the integrity of the area’s natural and architectural assets. There are no regularly scheduled meetings at this time.
West Kilgore Neighborhood Association- The West Kilgore Neighborhood lies along Kilgore Road (the City’s southern boundary) between South Westnedge Avenue and Oakland Drive. The area consists primarily of single-family homes, along with a private high school and commercial development at the neighborhood’s east end. The association was formed in 2004 in order to represent the interests of property owners during the reconstruction of Kilgore Road. The association is not active at this time.
Whites/Edgemoor/Bronson Neighborhood - The Whites/Edgemoor/Bronson (WEB) neighborhood is located southwest of downtown Kalamazoo and consists of over 300 homes, mostly constructed in the mid-to-late 1900’s. The area is sought after for the substantial homes that stand along its often-winding streets. It lies within the broader boundaries of the Westnedge Hill area. Association meetings take place as needed with annual elections in October of even numbered years.
Woods Lake Association - Woods Lake is a 26-acre lake located northwest of Oakland Drive and Parkview Avenue. About 60% of the lake’s shoreline is owned by members of the association, while the remaining shoreline is owned by the City and the Oakwood Neighborhood Association. Woods Lake Beach Bark and Lake Park are open to the public. Full membership is available for shoreline property owners and associate membership is available to all other interested parties. Association meetings are held as needed with an annual meeting each October. The Water Quality Committee meets approximately bi-monthly.