Welcome to Lafayette Park
A historic past with a bright future on the Detroit River
Directly east of downtown and just blocks away from Ford Field lies Lafayette Park, a historic, booming neighborhood undergoing fresh re-development for the Detroit of tomorrow. In addition to close downtown proximity, Lafayette Park is located near freeways and the Detroit River. Old-school restaurants serve up American classics like diner dishes and soul food plates to keep the spirit of old-school Detroit alive as Lafayette Park progresses into a bright future in the 21st century.
Lafayette Park is crawling with historic value, with many of the buildings designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a pioneer in modernist architecture. Several buildings on the north side of the neighborhood have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. As a whole, the community was a major starting point for progressive architectural styles. In modern times, the continued refurbishing of these historic buildings and homes has brought in a fresh, new generation of Detroiters, lighting the path for the Detroit of tomorrow.
What to Love
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Lafayette Park is a historic neighborhood with several buildings appearing on the National Register of Historic Places.
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The area is known for then-experimental types of architecture, including many mid-century modern styles.
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Lafayette Park is conveniently located directly east of Downtown and right on the Detroit River.
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In recent years, this neighborhood has seen a revitalization through new projects and developments, setting the vision for the future.
Local Lifestyle
With direct access to downtown and
Ford Field, game day is a big deal. The
Detroit Lions play less than a mile away from Lafayette Park. Close by downtown bars and restaurants open their doors for Lions fans from both near and far as they pass through Lafayette Park. This revitalized community appreciates the locally-owned businesses, including Thai and soul food restaurants.
Dining, Entertainment, & Shopping
Despite the levels of rapid growth and revitalization of Lafayette Park, one thing remains - traditional cuisines from Detroit’s storied past are here to stay! Traditional American fare, soul food, and Thai are common and authentic, with traditional recipes brought to town from their places of origin.
One authentic favorite is
Bai Mai Thai. The menu is chock-full of classic Thai dishes with daily features and native options like pad Thai, spring rolls, tom yum soup, and golden bags. After dinner, finish the day with a glass of vino at
Detroit Vineyards. With wines produced entirely from Michigan-grown fruit, Detroit Vineyards has a wine club featuring delivery, wine tastings, and special access to limited-production wines.
For days spent cooking at home,
Lafayette Foods and
Rivertown Market offer an affordable variety of unique ingredients to experiment with. Lafayette Foods is a one-stop shop for all your everyday basic necessities. Recently opened in the fall of 2021, Rivertown Market is conveniently located just off of Interstate 375 and blocks away from the Detroit River. More than just a market, Rivertown Market also includes a coffee stand, hot pizza to go, and fresh sushi made in-store.
Things To Do
Despite its inner-urban location, Lafayette Park is home to ample greenspaces and areas to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Lafayette Plaisance Park features walking paths, playgrounds, and space to play basketball, soccer, softball, and tennis. Walkways are lined with art, courtesy of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Another unique greenspace can be found at
Dequindre Cut. Previously a railroad line, the Dequindre Cut is a below-street grade greenway, well-known for its urban artwork and graffiti. The pathway includes separate lanes for bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Schools
Children of Lafayette Park attend Detroit Public Schools. One school in the community is:
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Chrysler Elementary School, kindergarten-fifth grade; award-winning school of journalism with a focus on writing in all academic areas