The Boston-Edison Historic District has a website: http://www.historicbostonedison.org/. Here you can learn about the neighborhood and historic mansions contained within. Incredibly, among the 900 homes in the 36-block neighborhood there are mansions you can pick up for under $100,000.
The Boston-Edison Historic District is an instantly recognizable address in the heart of Detroit, containing over 900 homes. Most homes were constructed between 1905 and 1925 and range in size from modest two-story vernaculars to impressive mansions. Early residents of Boston-Edison included Henry Ford, James Couzens, Horace Rackham, Sebastian Kresge, and Joe Louis.
Today Boston-Edison is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic neighborhood with people from diverse occupations and professions who share a common appreciation and love of historic homes. It boasts the Historic Boston-Edison Association, the oldest continuous neighborhood association in the City, founded in 1921.
Boston-Edison is a diverse, multi-cultural community, with people of all races, ages, and professions. It is located in the heart of Detroit, with easy access to the city and the entire metropolitan area. The homes in the district are unique, historically significant, and hand-constructed from natural materials.
There are two tax incentives for new residents. First, Boston-Edison is designated as a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone. Under the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone plan, residents who have moved into the Boston-Edison Historic District since December 31, 1997, may be eligible for a Homestead Exemption which will reduce property taxes up to 35%. To obtain the credit, residents must apply for the exemption, and they are required to sign an affidavit stating they plan to make a minimum investment of $500 in the property after the date of issue. Second, historic renovations on Boston-Edison homes are eligible for State Historic Tax Credits, which can return 25% of renovation costs to you in the form of an income tax credit.
