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From the end of World
War II to the mid 1960s, ranch-style homes were the
predominant architecture of choice in newer, outlying
communities. And although it was uncommon in older towns
like Dearborn, the ranch captured homeowners’ hearts
there as well.
In the 1950s, an enclave of
mostly single-story homes was developed on land owned by
Henry ford – acreage near Cherry Hill Road between
Military and Brady bordering the Dearborn Country Club.
Five decades later, the neighborhood known as Country Club
Estates in still sought after for its location, its
architecture and its quiet tree-lined streets, which are
remarkably free of cut-through traffic.
“It’s a mecca of 247 upscale,
custom homes located next to a beautiful golf course,”
says Al Rice, chairman of the homeowners association’s
planning review board. “It’s close to downtown
Detroit, Ford Headquarters, the freeways, Metro airport,
and just a 10-minute walk to the restaurants and
businesses on Michigan Avenue.”
The seven-person board reviews
renovation proposals to ensure that desired changes meet
Dearborn’s architectural-compatibility ordinance. As a
result of that, Rice says,” 90 percent of the homes have
remained architecturally pleasing and accurate.” |
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| Several
of the homes, including Rice’s, were designed by
students of Frank Lloyd Wright. This is promoted
by a neighborhood association that’s proud of
its ranch homes, with their low-hipped roofs,
hidden porches and earth-tone brick colors that
blend into the leafy landscape. |
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Back
at the ranch:
Low profiles, open yards, lots of shade trees and
few fences provide expansive views in this
Dearborn neighborhood. |
The generous half-acre
lots feel extra spacious without fences.
“There are certainly other
areas in metro Detroit that have ranch homes, but this is
quite an unusual collection that’s worthy of
recognition, and possible even historic designation,”
says Stephen Vogel, dean of the University of Detroit
Mercy school of architecture. “If someone from out of
town came to our school and wanted to see quality
architect-designed ranch homes from the 1950’s, I would
take them to Country Club Estates in Dearborn.
Jimmy Ferris, a local real estate
agent and eight-year resident of Country Club Estates,
says home prices in the neighborhood range from $350,000
to about $1 million. The “Estates” have appeal he can
explain from personal experience. “We wanted a home with
land, and we love Dearborn,” Ferris says. “So the
neighborhood was a perfect for us.” |
