|
HOW OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BEGAN AND GREW
Sherwood Forest was platted in 1917
and is made up of two subdivisions: Sherwood Forest and
Sherwood Forest Manor. Sherwood Forest Manor is the
property on Parkside and Refrew between Cambridge and
Pembroke. Sherwood Forest is the rest of the community.
Most of Sherwood Forest’s approximately 435 homes were
built in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. The neighborhood
boundaries are Seven Mile Road on the south, Livernois
on the west, Pembroke on the north and Parkside on the
east. We are located in a tranquil setting, but are just
a few minutes from downtown, with easy access to
shopping and all major freeways.
The Sherwood Forest Association was
formed in the summer of 1929 and has been active ever
since. Thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers over
the years, the Association can claim many significant
accomplishments that have enhanced the quality of the
neighborhood.
In its infancy, the Sherwood Forest
Association convinced the City of Detroit to close Outer
Drive at Livernois to reduce traffic through the area.
In the 1930’s, we worked with surrounding communities to
keep factories from being built on Seven Mile Road. In
the 1940’s, we waged a successful campaign to keep a
city airport from being constructed at Eight Mile and
Wyoming. In the 1950’s we began publishing the
Tattler as a vehicle for communication throughout
the neighborhood.
The Sherwood Forest Patrol began
operation in the 1960’s. Ever since then, Sherwood
Forest has enjoyed the protection of this private
security patrol service, which works closely with the
Board of Directors of the Sherwood Forest Association.
The 1960’s and 1970’s brought the
blight of Dutch Elm disease, and the Association was
there with a reforestation plan, the results of which we
are enjoying today. This also was a time of questionable
real estate practices. The Association took action to
improve real estate practices and to control redlining.
The 1980’s brought an opportunity to
update the neighborhood property restrictions. Most
homes are bound by these restrictions. They are
rigorously enforced to assure the continuing value of
homes and the continuing vitality of our community. We
invite all residents to read the restrictions carefully.
In 2002, Sherwood Forest was
designated a Detroit Historic District and was honored
with a Detroit Historic District Commission award for
maintaining and preserving our historic neighborhood. In
2003, we launched a successful series of "Meet and
Greets," Sunday afternoon parties in the homes of our
residents. In the summer of 2005, we held the first of
our summer jazz concerts and picnics in Sherwood Park on
Canterbury.
In processing our request for
historic designation, the Detroit Historic District
Commission did research on most of the houses in
Sherwood Forest. If you would like the information
on your house, click on your street name and find your
address.
|