Holly was originally named after Mount Holly, New Jersey and believed to be inspired by the red berries of the Michigan holly plant.
Holly has come a long way since its early origins as a small settlement at the end of the Civil War, and more recently as a junction of the Detroit & Milwaukee railroad
Holly was originally named after Mount Holly, New Jersey and believed to be inspired by the red berries of the Michigan holly plant.
Holly has come a long way since its early origins as a small settlement at the end of the Civil War, and more recently as a junction of the Detroit & Milwaukee railroad. Twenty-five years ago, most people in the Detroit metro area thought of the village of Holly as the closest place to go skiing and snowboarding in the southeastern part of the state. Today, skiing and snowboarding options are still there, but the village is seen as a far northern suburb of the metropolitan Detroit area, located in desirable Oakland County. Easy access to I-75 and location between Flint and Detroit still make it a place where people want to live and hang out.
Moving to Holly
Part of the big appeal of Holly is that it's a nice place to live in the metro Detroit area, where you can still find an affordable home for rent or apartment rental without having to sacrifice your safety. Houses in Holly are priced quite a bit below the national average, and there is an appealing blend of new construction homes and well-maintained older houses for rent and for sale.
If you want to move to Holly, come prepared to understand that landlords will still have certain things they want to see that indicate you will be a good tenant. Landlords will want to see steady employment, with an income that is at least three times the monthly rent. Also come prepared with a solid rental history and strong rental references, to help the landlord see some proof that you won't destroy the place. Don't forget the most important thing to bring to the lease signing: cash in pocket for the first month's rent, in addition to that pesky security deposit. If you happen to need a pet friendly apartment, you should be able to find that here, too, but most landlords who allow you to bring Fluffy and Fido will want you to pay some extra deposits.
Because Holly is a small village, it doesn't have distinct neighborhoods. However, there are a few loosely defined areas of Holly that you might want to check out for different rental options.
Newark/Five Points: this large area of Holly is largely rural and surrounds the center of the village. This is a great place to look for a rental house on a large plot of land and is surrounded by a lot of lush forested areas with the potential for small, friendly woodland creatures as neighbors.
Deer Creek: this area includes newer homes, close to the farthest northern edges of Holly by Grand Blanc by the intersection of Holly Road and Baldwin Road. This is a great location if you have to spend time in both Flint and Detroit, so commuting will be easy as pie.
Downtown: The downtown area of Holly includes a quaint, retro Main Street and with tons of old-fashioned appeal. This area includes more charming shops and small businesses than houses, but some loft style rental apartments may be available above the buildings. Take a stroll, have dinner, and possibly decide to live here.
Affordable housing isn't the only thing to love about Holly. There is a surprising number of entertaining things to occupy you right in town.
History buffs will love the work the Holly Historical Society does to keep the spirit of the village alive. You can revisit Holly's railroad heritage at the Detroit Model Railroad Club and take in historical exhibits at the Hadley House and Holly Historical museum. The historic Holly Hotel is not just a place to get a world-class meal in your belly; the comedy club downstairs also makes it a fun place to spend a night out.
You won't need to drive all the way into Detroit to find a wide variety of choices for other unique restaurants, either. The Bittersweet Cafe puts its own spin on breakfast and lunch dishes, and the Blackthorn Pub is perfect when you want to enjoy a fine brew along with classic Michigan fare like fish and chips. Avia Family Dining offers top notch cuisine, including Greek, Italian and traditional American dishes all under one roof.
Time to burn off those calories? Holly has plenty of options for people who want to get out and live an active lifestyle. The Mount Holly Recreation Area is still a favorite for winter sports, like skiing and snowboarding. The Holly Township Parks and Recreation division sponsors softball leagues in the spring and summer. Headwaters Trails promotes canoeing and hiking events, and the Holdridge Trails Mountain Bike Trails are well maintained so that area cyclists, walkers, snowshoe buffs and x-country skiiers can enjoy them.
