Woodbridge History The area we call Woodbridge today originated as a farm owned by a former governor of Michigan, William Woodbridge. The area remained farmland with a few modest homes until after Woodbrdge’s death in the mid 1800’s, at which time it was divided into smaller parcels. 1871 saw the first major development of the neighborhood by the Hodges Brothers, who advertised and constructed homes along the newly established Lincoln Street, and it was around this time that most of the large and opulent housing was built. Development continued rather slowly with individual homeowners or small-scale builders developing lots. the area, from Myrtle and what is now the John C. Lodge Expressway became filled with a wide variety of housing types and styles. Development continues northwesternly from this point for the next 45 years. Apartment buildings were constructed beside single-family homes, and townhouses were built among duplexes and triplexes. The variety of builders yielded a variety of structures. The neighborhood continued to flourish through the 1920’s as it enjoyed its location on multiple streetcar lines that allowed quick access to rapidly developing downtown Detroit. As the popularity of the automobile increased, it eased access to the outer edges of the City to the suburbs. The population began to move away from the urban core. Along with this population shift came the construction of the John C. Lodge and Interstate 94 freeways. These projects further isolated sections of the neighborhood from one another, as well as destroyed a significant number of houses. At roughly the same time, land was cleared for the construction of a large public housing development. All of these actions left a cloud of uncertainty over the Woodbridge neighborhood as residents worried that nothing was safe from "progress". Following the revisions to the Federal Housing Act of 1959, which broadened the eligibility for Urban Renewal project funding, the outlook for the neighborhood became even more bleak. The newly revised legislation now allowed funding for land acquisition and clearance. Shortly thereafter the City of Detroit and Wayne State University began working together to “revitalize” over 300 acres of land located to the south and west of campus. The University-City proposal established a five-phase plan to clear land as far west as 14th Street. Citizens who had experienced enough impact during the freeway and federal housing construction of the 1950’s mobilized under the State of Michigan Public Act 344 to form the University City Citizens’ District Council. A lengthy battle ensued with the residents both winning and losing. The proposal essentially completed stages 1-3. Phase one saw the clearance of land for new athletic facilities for the University; phase two eventually resulted in development of subsidized apartments; phase three resulted in a new public high school and a vast expanse of vacant land. Through the struggle the community emerged with a District Council that led the causes of the local citizenry for the next several decades. At turning point the neighborhood was christened “Woodbridge” after William Woodbridge, a territorial governor of early Michigan and the owner of the farm on which the neighborhood was built. In 1979, a majority of the neighborhood was named a State and National Historic District in order to further protect it from government funded actions. As happened across the nation, the 1980’s brought accelerated decline to the urban core of Detroit. The reasons for this decline are many, but the resultant blight, abandonment and loss of hope appeared irreversible. Just as Wayne State University had some years earlier been a threat to the future of the neighborhood, it now brought some glimmers of hope in response to the devastation of the 1980’s. As Wayne State evolved and expanded, many of its students and professors began to discover the area surrouding the University, including the Woodbridge area. Enterprising individuals, enamored with both the extremely low costs of home ownership and the remarkable architecture of the area’s structures, began a long road to recovery for the neighborhood. Individuals and families, alike, purchased and renovated abandoned homes. At around the same time, entrepreneurs began investing in the real estate to be used as rentals for, especially for students. As a result of the reinvestment, many apartment buildings, duplexes and single-family homes were purchased, renovated and leased. By the late 1990’s housing prices in the neighborhood had risen significantly. Individual investment of the previous decades had finally begun to take hold. A few years into the new millennium it was clear that the rebirth of the neighborhood had clear momentum as area homes began selling for over $200,000 and large scale rehabilitations were on the rise. Today the neighborhood and its residents enjoy the rewards of these past efforts. Having a sense of community and friendliness that has seemingly been forgotten in this region, Woodbridge has much to boast about. Woodbridge was once the home to such famous Detroiters as David Stott, Governor G. Mennen “Soapy” Williams, James Scripps, George Booth, William Northwood and Ty Cobb. The rich history left by these past residents continues to be celebrated today. An annual Home and Garden Tour held each September gives the public a first hand view of the neighborhood and the colorful residents that continue to shape its history. Woodbridge has been known for decades by musicians, performers and artists as a favorite place to live, rehearse or visit friends. It is also home to cultural institutions such as the Boy Scouts of America Detroit Council Headquarters, Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Alley Culture Gallery as well as Gallery 555 and the 4731 Arts Incubator in the quickly emerging cultural corridor. Also located in Woodbridge is Patterson Dog and Cat Hospital, the oldest facility of its kind in the State. The Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit recently relocated here -- a not for profit that reclaims unused or discarded building material in an effort to reduce, reuse and rebuild homes throughout Detroit.