2nd Ave, Midtown

2nd Ave runs from the 75 onramp and dead ends at the Wayne State campus. I lived at the corner of 2nd and Forest, a few blocks down from WSU and have to say it wasn't bad. There's definitely a nicer vibe on this end of the street versus further south towards downtown. Ok, in the WSU area you'll find a good selection of cheap rental apartments, some better managed than others. Ask around.

Corner stores and small restaurants aplenty on the street and one street over on Cass.

On street parking is the norm, this can be a huge hassle, especially if you're coming in at night.

Crime wise, I think it's much worse as you get further from the university, but, I did have a car stolen off of 2nd. (Police later recovered it). There is a bus route that runs down 2nd, and you're only two blocks from Woodward where most of the buses run.

The best part of 2nd is that you're close to everything, Ford Theatre, the museum, downtown and the freeways. Now that I pay way to much rent in California, I can appreciate the great rent ($400 for a 1 bedroom) I paid when I lived on 2nd.

The worst....eh, it's still downtown Detroit. Drugs, crime and blight are less than two minutes away.