The Detroit Free Press is highlighting neighborhoods across Michigan, showcasing what makes each community unique. This week we look at Taylor and what is special about this city in metro Detroit.
Appeal: Tucked in the Downriver region, Taylor blends suburban living with urban conveniences. Over the years, the city has grown into a vibrant residential and commercial hub while still maintaining pockets of open spaces. The city features established neighborhoods alongside new residential developments, a wide range of recreational amenities, diverse shopping and dining and active industrial parks.
Facts: Home to 63,409 residents, Taylor was once part of Ecorse Township before becoming its own entity. Organized in 1847 and named after Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States, the city officially incorporated in 1968.
Located about 20 minutes from downtown Detroit and under 10 minutes from Detroit Metro Airport, Taylor offers prime accessibility with Interstate 94, Interstate 75 and Telegraph Road all running through it.
Taylor also holds a unique place in Michigan’s food history. It’s home to the first Hungry Howie’s pizza company, which opened on Telegraph Road in 1973 and grew into a national chain.
A standout local landmark, the Gateway Bridge, was built in time for the Super Bowl XL in 2006 to welcome travelers arriving from Metro Airport. Featuring two blue, football-shaped tied-arch spans, it became Michigan’s first bridge of its kind and stands prominently over Telegraph Road at I-94.
Taylor is also home to the Junior League Baseball World Series, an international baseball tournament for players ages 13-14 that began in 1981 and has been played exclusively at Heritage Park ever since. Go to cityoftaylor.com for more information. (U.S. Census)
New developments: Current projects include Autumn Woods on Pennsylvania Road, a condominium development south of Wayne County Community College, and Brookwood Estates Senior Living off of Goddard. Established neighborhoods like Cypress Gardens and Island Lakes of Midtown are nearing capacity.
On the commercial side, Metro 94 Commerce Park redevelopment includes plans for a roughly 532,000-square-foot industrial facility slated for completion in winter 2027, according to city officials. Additionally, the Taylor Distribution Center, part of the Detroit Region Aerotropolis, offers tax abatements and incentives for qualified manufacturers and logistic companies.
Neighborhoods: Taylor offers a wide range of housing options, from modest two-bedroom ranches and bungalows built in the 1950s and 1960s to larger colonials, tri-levels and newer subdivisions with attached garages. Condominiums, apartments and manufactured homes also round out the mix.
In 2024, single-family home sales ranged from around $50,000 for investment properties to $505,000 for a golf course home, according to Realcomp II data.
“We have a lot to be proud about in Taylor,” Mayor Tim Woolley said. “For the second straight year, our community has been ranked No. 1 in Michigan for first-time homebuyers by Realtors.”
Parks and recreation: Taylor has about 20 parks, with Heritage Park, often called the “jewel of the city,” located just east of Wayne County Community College. It includes a fishing pond, petting farm, splash pad, roller-skating rink, playgrounds, ball fields, trails, Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, and the Taylor Community Library. The park’s Coan Lake Historical area celebrates local heritage, including the city’s oldest surviving structure, the Log Cabin, built circa 1850 and relocated to the park in 1986. City officials also plan to install lighted pickleball courts this fall.
On the city’s southwest side, Lange Park is undergoing a $4.6 million restoration through a partnership with Wayne County. Scheduled to open in spring 2026, the park will feature a BMX pump track, sled hill, roller skating, skateboarding park, 18-hole disc golf course, trails for walking, running and mountain biking, a dog park and a stocked 2-acre pond with piers and modern security features.
Taylor also offers the Taylor Sportsplex, with arenas for ice hockey and recreational sports, and operates two municipal golf courses: Lakes of Taylor and Meadows Golf Clubs. Both originally designed for flood control have become highly successful, according to city officials.
Taxes: In 2024, the total property tax rate was $49.80 per $1,000 of a house’s taxable value in the Taylor School District. A $141,200 (median price) house with a taxable value of $70,600 would have property taxes of $3,515.
Shopping and dining: Taylor has become a Downriver destination for retail, dining, and entertainment, anchored by Southland Center Mall and Trader’s Point along Eureka Road between Telegraph and Allen roads.
Several new businesses are joining the mix. Aldi is currently building a new store in the former Big Lots building, and Raising Cane’s is seeking approval to open one of its newest locations on Telegraph. Main Event, a large entertainment center, recently opened, while KPOT Korean BBQ has moved into a former Wahlburgers space.
Hospitality and travel options are also growing. Marriott recently completed two new hotels off Eureka Road, and Sheetz is scheduled to be built directly in front of the hotels.
Industries and employers: Corewell Health Taylor Hospital, Load One, Atlas Oil, Southfield Center (combined total), Worthington Steel, UniFirst and Wallside Windows.
Public transportation: SMART, 866-962-5515; Dial A Ride Transportation Services, for residents 50 and older, 313-291-7740.Public safety: Taylor police reported 190 burglaries, 219 vehicle thefts, 56 criminal sexual conduct cases, 47 robberies, and three homicides in 2024.
Mayor Woolley, who also is a lifelong resident, said the city continues to invest in innovative public safety measures.
“We have invested heavily in ‘labor multipliers’ for our police department, adding the best in technology to make both our residents and officers safer through the strategic use of cameras, drones and even a robotic dog,” Woolley said. “We’re one of the front-runners in the state in that department.”
Community insight: Ashley Young, 36, grew up in Taylor and now lives near her childhood home. “I like the area we are in. It’s close to a park, and the neighbors are great,” she said. Young added that she appreciates living in a city with so much to offer, from shopping and dining to fun events and golf courses.
Brendel Clark (previously published as Brendel Hightower) writes about real estate and other topics for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bclark@freepress.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan city named for a U.S. president offers vibrant living, shopping
Reporting by Brendel Clark , Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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