Cherry Hill
Historic color on compact streets
Neighborhood · Kent County
Cherry Hill at a glance
A locally designated historic district in southeast Grand Rapids with colorful early-20th-century homes, Cherry Park, and proximity to the Cherry Street dining corridor.
- Median Price
- $285,000
- Median DOM
- 18 days
- Walk Score
- 94
- Population
- 1,200
- School District
- Grand Rapids Public Schools
- Tax Millage
- 33.63
Market data as of 2026-03. Population: Approximation based on East Hills Council of Neighbors sub-neighborhood estimates.
Overview
Overview
Cherry Hill is a locally designated historic district in southeast Grand Rapids, situated just east of Heritage Hill and within the broader East Hills community. The district was designated by the City of Grand Rapids in 1994, and its boundaries run roughly between Cherry Street, Union Street, Wealthy Street, and Eastern Avenue. Most homes in the district were built between 1880 and 1920, during Grand Rapids' furniture manufacturing boom.
The neighborhood's visual character is defined by compact urban lots with early-20th-century homes painted in a variety of bright, bold colors. Streets are narrow and tree-lined, with front porches close to the sidewalk. Cherry Park, at 725 Cherry Street SE, anchors the district with a playground, splash pad, basketball courts, tennis courts, and picnic areas. The park has been a community gathering place for over a century.
Cherry Hill sits within the East Hills Council of Neighbors (EHCN) service area, one of seven sub-neighborhoods that make up East Hills. The EHCN was founded in 1981 to address crime and housing concerns, and Cherry Hill was a focal point of early organizing efforts. Residents pushed for historic district designation in the early 1990s to prevent demolitions and encourage renovation investment. The strategy worked: Cherry Hill has undergone a sustained revival over the past three decades, with new businesses, restored homes, and increased homeownership steadily transforming the district.
Real Estate
Real Estate
Cherry Hill's housing stock consists primarily of single-family homes and small multi-unit properties built between 1880 and 1920. Homes typically range from 1,000 to 2,200 square feet on compact urban lots. The price range spans roughly $175,000 for properties needing renovation to around $400,000 for fully updated homes with period details intact.
What to expect:
- Single-family homes: 2 to 4 bedrooms, 1,000 to 2,200 sq ft, most with front porches, original woodwork, and hardwood floors
- Multi-unit properties: Duplexes and small multi-family buildings are common, reflecting the neighborhood's rental history
- Lot sizes: Compact urban lots, typically 0.08 to 0.15 acres
- New construction: Minimal; the historic district designation limits new builds and requires exterior modifications to be reviewed by the Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission
- HOA prevalence: Uncommon; most properties are standalone
Buyers should be aware that as a locally designated historic district, all exterior modifications to properties in Cherry Hill must be reviewed by the Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission. Interior renovations are not subject to review. The HPC process adds timeline but does not prevent thoughtful renovation.
Architecture
Architecture
Cherry Hill's architectural character reflects the building patterns of Grand Rapids' working and middle-class neighborhoods from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The dominant styles include Craftsman bungalows, American Foursquares, and late Victorian cottages. Many homes feature original front porches, decorative woodwork, and period-appropriate window configurations.
The neighborhood's visual identity is especially defined by its colorful paint schemes. Homeowners in Cherry Hill have embraced bold exterior colors, creating a streetscape that stands out from the more muted palettes of neighboring Heritage Hill. This tradition has become a point of neighborhood pride and a recognizable feature of the district.
Unlike Heritage Hill's grand mansions built for lumber barons and industrialists, Cherry Hill's homes were built for skilled tradespeople and mid-level workers in Grand Rapids' furniture factories. The scale is more modest, with two-story homes of 1,200 to 2,000 square feet being the norm rather than the exception.
Schools
Schools
Cherry Hill falls within the Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) district. GRPS operates an attendance-area-based assignment system; the specific school serving a Cherry Hill address can be determined using the GRPS Attendance Area Finder tool online.
Congress Elementary (K-5, 1331 M.L.K. Jr St SE) is located near Cherry Hill and serves portions of the neighborhood. Coit Creative Arts Academy is a GRPS theme-school option integrating visual arts, music, dance, and movement with core academics. For middle and high school, GRPS operates several options accessible to Cherry Hill residents, including Innovation Central High School and Grand Rapids Montessori (PK-12).
GRPS participates in Schools of Choice, allowing residents to apply to attend theme schools and Centers of Innovation throughout the district. Private and charter options nearby include Grand Rapids Christian Schools and Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center.
Dining
Dining
Cherry Hill's dining scene benefits from its location along the Cherry Street corridor and proximity to the Wealthy Street commercial district.
Grove (919 Cherry St SE), just east of the district in East Hills, is a seasonal farm-to-table New American restaurant that has won Grand Rapids Magazine's Restaurant of the Year multiple times. The menu rotates with Midwest farming seasons. The Cherie Inn (969 Cherry St SE) has been serving brunch and European-style fare since 1924 in a century-old building with original tin ceilings.
Cherry Hill Market (721 Cherry St SE) is the neighborhood's corner store, carrying beer, wine, spirits, and essentials. It serves as an informal community gathering point.
Along Wealthy Street, within a short walk from Cherry Hill, residents can access Donkey Taqueria, Electric Cheetah, The Winchester, Testa Rossa Pizzeria, and Thai Table, among more than 20 dining and drinking establishments. Furniture City Creamery (958 Cherry St SE) offers handcrafted ice cream with a daily rotating menu including dairy-free options.
The Fulton Street Market, Grand Rapids' oldest farmers market (established 1922), is accessible at the western edge of the area and hosts over 200 vendors during peak season.
Parks
Parks and Recreation
Cherry Park (725 Cherry St SE) is the neighborhood's anchor green space and has served as a community gathering place for over a century. The park features a playground with slides, a climbing dome, a merry-go-round, and swings. A Michigan-themed splash pad is open seasonally from 10 AM to 9 PM. The park also includes basketball courts, tennis courts, picnic tables, and restrooms. A bus stop for The Rapid is located directly in front of the park on Cherry Street, and bike racks are available in the playground area.
Wilcox Park, located nearby, is a larger multi-acre urban park with landscaped gardens, playgrounds, a splash pad, tennis courts, basketball courts, and walking trails. The broader Grand Rapids trail network, including connections to the Kent Trails system and Grand River paths, is accessible via short rides from the neighborhood.
Getting Around
Transportation
Cherry Hill is one of the most accessible neighborhoods in Grand Rapids for non-car commuters. The western boundary sits approximately 1.0 to 1.5 miles from the center of downtown, a 5 to 8 minute drive or 15 to 20 minute walk.
Public transit is readily available. Rapid Central Station (250 Grandville SW) is located near the neighborhood's southwestern edge and serves as the primary hub for The Rapid's bus network, including the Silver Line BRT (Route 90) with 10 to 15 minute peak headways. Routes 1 (Division/Madison), 2 (Kalamazoo), 5 (Wealthy), and 6 (Eastown) all serve stops near or within the district. A bus stop is located directly on Cherry Street in front of Cherry Park.
Bike infrastructure connects Cherry Hill to downtown and surrounding neighborhoods via the city's bike lane network. Major road access includes Eastern Avenue (eastern boundary), Wealthy Street (southern boundary connecting to I-196 west), and Cherry Street (primary east-west corridor through the district).
Gerald R. Ford International Airport is approximately 13 miles southeast, a 16 to 20 minute drive.
Community
Community
Cherry Hill is one of seven sub-neighborhoods within the East Hills Council of Neighbors (EHCN) service area, alongside Fitch Corner, Congress Park, Diamond Gate, Fairmount Square, Orchard Hill, and Wealthy Heights. EHCN was founded in 1981 and holds monthly neighborhood meetings on the third Monday of every month at 6:30 PM in Cherry Park.
The Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission oversees all exterior modifications within the Cherry Hill Historic District. Uptown Grand Rapids is the business association covering the Wealthy Street, East Fulton, East Hills, and Eastown commercial districts adjacent to the neighborhood.
The nearest Grand Rapids Public Library branch is the Madison Square Branch (1201 Madison Ave SE). The GRPL Main Library downtown is approximately 1.5 miles from Cherry Hill.
Cherry Park hosts community events throughout the summer, and the broader East Hills community organizes an annual neighborhood celebration.
History
History
Cherry Hill's origins trace to Grand Rapids' residential expansion during the furniture manufacturing boom of the late 1800s. The homes in the district were built primarily between 1880 and 1920 for skilled tradespeople and factory workers, representing a more modest counterpart to the grand mansions being built simultaneously in neighboring Heritage Hill for the city's industrial elite.
By the early 1990s, many properties in Cherry Hill had fallen into disrepair. Crime, drug trafficking, and gang activity were present in the area. After two violent incidents targeting residents, approximately 20 neighbors held a meeting and organized to revive the neighborhood. They formed a block club and pushed for historic district designation as a tool to prevent demolitions, stabilize property values, and attract renovation investment.
The City of Grand Rapids designated Cherry Hill as a local historic district in 1994. The designation brought Historic Preservation Commission oversight of exterior changes and created incentives for historically appropriate renovation. The strategy proved effective: over the following three decades, the neighborhood experienced sustained investment, rising homeownership, and the arrival of new businesses. Cherry Hill's transformation is often cited alongside Heritage Hill as an example of preservation-driven neighborhood revitalization in Grand Rapids.
Investment
Investment Potential
Cherry Hill offers investment opportunity rooted in its historic district status, compact housing stock, and proximity to high-demand commercial corridors. The neighborhood's multi-unit properties, including duplexes and small multi-family buildings, provide rental income potential with strong demand from the walkable location near Cherry Street and Wealthy Street businesses.
The historic district designation adds a layer of oversight through the Historic Preservation Commission for exterior modifications, but also provides a measure of neighborhood stability that protects long-term property values. Homes needing renovation can still be found in the $175,000 to $225,000 range, offering value-add potential in a location where fully updated homes sell closer to $350,000 to $400,000.
The broader East Hills area continues to attract new businesses and dining establishments, which supports ongoing appreciation. Proximity to Rapid Central Station and downtown employment centers keeps rental demand consistent.
Important for short-term rental investors: Grand Rapids requires a Home Occupation Class C License and Special Land Use Permit for short-term rentals, with significant restrictions: the property must be the owner's principal residence, the owner must be present during rental periods, rentals are limited to one room with a maximum of two adult guests, and entire-home rentals are prohibited. Investors should underwrite to long-term rental income only.
Nathan's Take
The local read.
Cherry Hill is Heritage Hill's next-door neighbor, and it shares many of the same advantages: walkability, proximity to downtown, historic character, and access to the Cherry Street dining scene. The key difference is price. You can get into Cherry Hill at a lower entry point than Heritage Hill, with homes in the $175,000 to $250,000 range that need work, or updated properties in the $300,000 to $400,000 range.
The homes here are more modest in scale. These were built for tradespeople and factory workers rather than lumber barons. Expect 1,200 to 2,000 square feet with Craftsman and Foursquare styles rather than the grand Queen Anne and Italianate mansions across the way. That said, the renovation quality I see here is strong, with homeowners doing careful, period-appropriate work that holds its value.
Cherry Park is a genuine community anchor. The splash pad, playground, and courts make it functional, and the monthly neighborhood meetings held there show that this is a community that stays engaged. For buyers looking at investment properties, the duplexes and small multi-family buildings here rent well given the walkable location and proximity to Wealthy Street businesses.
If Heritage Hill's price point or the scale of its renovation projects feels like more than you want to take on, Cherry Hill deserves a look. You get the same neighborhood infrastructure, the same historic district protections, and the same access to one of Grand Rapids' best dining corridors, all at a more accessible price.
Location
Cherry Hill on the map
Approximate center of the Cherry Hill area. Drag to explore the surrounding neighborhoods and commute corridors.
Listings
Browse homes in Cherry Hill.
See what is currently listed in Cherry Hill and the surrounding area.
Resources
Helpful links
Neighborhood organization covering Cherry Hill and six other East Hills sub-neighborhoods, with meeting schedules and community news
Historic district regulations, exterior modification permit applications, and meeting schedules
District homepage, school directory, and enrollment information
Determine which GRPS school serves a specific address in Cherry Hill
Business association for Wealthy Street, Cherry Street, East Fulton, and Eastown commercial districts
Bus schedules, route maps, and fare information for public transit
GRPL locations, hours, and programs including the nearby Madison Square Branch
Official municipal site including property tax estimator and planning resources
More in Grand Rapids
Other neighborhoods in Grand Rapids.
Cherry Hill is one of several neighborhoods in Grand Rapids. Each has its own character and price range.
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— Nathan Strodtbeck, REALTOR®