Originally Posted by
EastsideAl
That there's "nowhere to walk to" reflects the fact that Indian Village was really built as a sort of early commuter suburb. It wasn't ever really intended for walking, beyond pleasant semi-bucolic strolls.
The south part of the Village was built in the first two decades of the 20th century and many of the early residents were the movers and financial backers of the auto industry. The north part was mostly built in the late 'teens and '20s and many of the early residents were executives in the auto companies and related industries.
Part of the point of IV was to live away from the crowded business center of the city and be able to use a car to get around, but still live close enough to easily commute to downtown or the industrial areas. Several of the houses were built with driveways, which was not yet common then. Commuting to downtown was helped by the fact that the Village was accessed by no fewer than 4 streetcar lines [[in fact, my father decided he wanted to live in Indian Village someday after passing through the neighborhood regularly on the Charlevoix streetcar).
You have to keep in mind that for people in that class in those pre-depression days, the grind of food and household shopping was mostly handled by servants, and most victuals were delivered directly. Even for clothes shopping, etc., the ladies would go downtown to Hudson's, or someplace classier, and make their selections, which would be delivered to their homes later that day or by the following morning at the latest.
Indian Village is to this very day zoned entirely residential, with no businesses allowed [[save for doctor's offices attached to homes on Kercheval). This stricture is even in most of the deeds. The zoning also calls for owner-occupied single-family residential, with rentals only permitted in a limited number of carriage houses.