Hubbard-Richard

If you have been to Mexicantown in Detroit then you have been to the Hubbard-Richard neighborhood. That is what this area is known for and that is its claim to fame. It has a number of Mexican restaurants and that's why it has become known through the years as "Mexicantown".

The great restaurants and food draw people in and make for a nice area to visit and have a meal. The problem is that there isn't much else to this neighborhood. There are some homes, but not many of them. It's not a true neighborhood in that sense as it's more focused on the business and commerce found here rather than the residential.

Another key factor that might draw people away from living here is that the major I-75 expressway literally runs right through the area. There isn't much parking and there is a lot of noise so it doesn't make for a lot of peace and quiet. There isn't a lot of crime here but there just aren't many amenities besides the local restaurants that have helped to put this area on the map so to speak.

This is a great place to visit and have a good meal, but not necessarily where you would want to live.

Two things brought me to this neighborhood. The first is when I was PC Tech for city of Detroit and had to fix the PC's at the animal shelter down by the river. And the second was when I worked at the DTE headquarters and my coworkers and I went to lunch for Mexican in Mexican town.

As far as the animal shelter area, there was nothing down there in the way of neighborhoods. Just industrial and manufacturing buildings. For some reason there was heightened security in the area, I guess from it being close to the border and the river.

As far as the neighborhood, there were several Mexican restaurants near Bagley. The one we went to had great food and pretty good service. They were always packed at lunchtime and a lot of business came through there.

The surrounding neighborhood was OK. Nothing great, but nothing terrible. One of the ways I judge Detroit neighborhoods is if I feel like I could get robbed at any time. I didn't feel this way when I was over in this area.

I-75 runs directly through this part of town, and West Grand Blvd and Fort St are the main roadways. This area is close to the downtown area, and so by extension has access to its amenities if the locals are willing to travel a few miles.