Russell Woods
Russell Woods is Detroit's largest historic district. It’s home to over a thousand one-of-a-kind brick homes that were originally built for middle-class families in the 1920s, and a community that hosts its own annual Jazz in the Park concert for the entire city every summer.
Detroit's largest historic district, full stop: The area boasts over 1,000 unique Tudor Revival, French Eclectic, Colonial Revival, and Prairie-style homes built between 1916 and the 1930s. These artisan-quality structures feature stained glass, limestone trim, clay tile roofing, clinker brick, turrets, and historic porte-cochères.
Where The Supremes grew up: Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson, all three founding members of Motown's most iconic vocal group, lived in Russell Woods as they rose to global fame, weaving the neighborhood directly into musical history.
Part of Detroit's homegrown music legacy: Golden World Records operated a studio connected to Russell Woods, where artists recorded some of Detroit's defining soul music before the label was acquired by Motown, reflecting the city's remarkable concentration of homegrown musical talent.
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shopping
Dexter Retail Pop-Up Hub
This innovative shipping-container retail hub at 13200 Dexter creates affordable opportunities for local entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses. Home to Detroit Smoothie Café and Chef Dre's Barbeque Jazz & Soul, the space provides an accessible pathway to brick-and-mortar ownership while adding new energy and locally owned businesses to the neighborhood's commercial corridor.
food
In Harmony Café
A community-owned coffee shop and café on Dexter Avenue opened in 2022 by Tahlib and Keyona Barnes. It stands as the first major new business to open on the Dexter corridor in years and a consistent gathering spot that Mayor Duggan specifically called out as a symbol of the neighborhood's commercial revival.
culture
FOCUS: HOPE
A nationally recognized civil and human rights organization launched in 1968 by Father William Cunningham and Eleanor Josaitis in direct response to the 1967 uprising. The organization is dedicated to intelligent and practical action against racism and poverty through food programs, early childhood education, and comprehensive workforce training in manufacturing and information technology.
culture
University of Detroit Mercy
Michigan’s largest Catholic university, founded by the Jesuits in 1877 and merged with Mercy College in 1990. Its main McNichols campus at Six Mile and Livernois anchors Northwest Detroit, offering more than 100 degree programs across engineering, architecture, nursing, law, and liberal arts.
outdoors
Zussman Playground
A fully renovated neighborhood park within Russell Woods featuring new equipment, accessibility improvements, and community-created murals that have become some of the most-photographed spots in the neighborhood.
culture
Florence Ballard's Home
A pilgrimage site for Motown fans, this was the residence of Supremes co-founder Florence Ballard during the group's rise to global fame. Located at 3767 Buena Vista, it forms a key piece of a walkable Motown history tour connecting Russell Woods to the legacy of Black music in America.
culture
Durfee Innovation Society
A 176,000-square-foot former school building on Collingwood that Life Remodeled transformed into a multi-resource opportunity center. It is now home to more than 30 nonprofits and social-impact tenants delivering free after-school programs, job training, financial counseling, and mental health support for more than 25,000 Detroiters a year.
culture
Parkman Detroit Public Library
A historic branch on Oakman Boulevard that anchors the area with books, computers, children’s programming, and community events just a short walk from Russell Woods. It serves as a welcoming civic space, offering free resources for students, families, and lifelong learners to gather, study, and connect.
events
Jazz in the Park
The RWSAA's signature summer event draws people from across Southeast Michigan to Russell Woods Park in late July for an evening of live jazz under the trees. It is free to attend and stands as one of the most joyful outdoor events in the city.
Meet Carlos Parisi, a Detroit entrepreneur, food personality, and community builder bringing people together through food. From his business Aunt Nee's to celebrating the city's vibrant culinary scene, discover how Carlos is uplifting local businesses, building community, and sharing his love for Detroit, one bite at a time.
Meet Justin Kosmides, co-founder of Bloom, a company helping connect businesses with manufacturers to bring innovative ideas to life. Discover what inspired Justin to move from New York City to Detroit and why he believes the city is the perfect place to build a business and help shape the future of American manufacturing.
Housing
Russell Woods is home to brick Tudor Revivals complete with original arched doorways, stained glass windows, a clay tile roof, and a porte-cochère in a beautiful residential setting.
Community
The Russell Woods-Sullivan Area Association, established in 1958, is one of Detroit's oldest continuously operating neighborhood organizations. Its year-round calendar is proof that this community shows up for one another. Block clubs, annual events, membership drives, and advocacy for the Dexter Avenue streetscape improvements are all coordinated through the association. Showing the neighborhood's cooperative spirit, Zussman Playground recently received a full renovation, including brand-new, community-created murals.
History
Russell Woods was developed in two waves, with the original plan in 1916 by Henry Russel and the Sullivan addition in 1925. It was designed as a middle-class family neighborhood with artisan-quality construction that would rival Detroit's mansion districts at an accessible price. In the 1920s and 1930s, the area became a vibrant center of Jewish life. By the late 1950s and 1960s, Black families, including members of The Supremes, moved in, bringing a deep, lasting association with Motown and Black middle-class Detroit success.
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McCabe Field
Jerry's Pizza & Bar-B-Q
shopping
Dexter Retail Pop-Up Hub
This innovative shipping-container retail hub at 13200 Dexter creates affordable opportunities for local entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses. Home to Detroit Smoothie Café and Chef Dre's Barbeque Jazz & Soul, the space provides an accessible pathway to brick-and-mortar ownership while adding new energy and locally owned businesses to the neighborhood's commercial corridor.
food
In Harmony Café
A community-owned coffee shop and café on Dexter Avenue opened in 2022 by Tahlib and Keyona Barnes. It stands as the first major new business to open on the Dexter corridor in years and a consistent gathering spot that Mayor Duggan specifically called out as a symbol of the neighborhood's commercial revival.
culture
FOCUS: HOPE
A nationally recognized civil and human rights organization launched in 1968 by Father William Cunningham and Eleanor Josaitis in direct response to the 1967 uprising. The organization is dedicated to intelligent and practical action against racism and poverty through food programs, early childhood education, and comprehensive workforce training in manufacturing and information technology.
culture
University of Detroit Mercy
Michigan’s largest Catholic university, founded by the Jesuits in 1877 and merged with Mercy College in 1990. Its main McNichols campus at Six Mile and Livernois anchors Northwest Detroit, offering more than 100 degree programs across engineering, architecture, nursing, law, and liberal arts.
outdoors
Zussman Playground
A fully renovated neighborhood park within Russell Woods featuring new equipment, accessibility improvements, and community-created murals that have become some of the most-photographed spots in the neighborhood.
Russell Woods feels like home because almost everyone treats one another like family. The stability of the neighborhood helps cultivate lifelong friendships and long lasting memories. My Favorite memory from my Childhood is EASILY the Annual Broadstreet Parade.
Marreo “Reo” Ramsey