community Profiles
Beverly Hills
It may be a small village, but Beverly Hills, a 4.25-square mile bedroom community more than lives up
to its fancy name with a first-class school district, pretty homes, parks and even nature preserves. It
is also the state’s most populous village, with 10,500 residents at last count.
Part of the Birmingham School District, Beverly Hills is home to Groves High School, Berkshire Middle
School, and Greenfield and Beverly elementary schools. The middle and upper schools of Detroit Country
Day School are located in Beverly Hills, as is the parochial Academy of the Sacred Heart.
In addition to education, Beverly Hills prides itself on its public services with quick response times
and special attention residents have come to expect. Community events include a Memorial Day Parade and
Carnival each year, as well as the Halloween Hoot in Beverly Park and concerts in the park in summer.
The largest of the village’s three parks is Beverly Park, which is 34 acres and offers
playgrounds, trails, volleyball and basketball courts, and a sled hill and outdoor ice rink. It is also
where many of the community’s events happen, with the Beverly Park pavilion hosting the summer
concerts and movie nights. In 2022, the village started the Sculptures in the Parks Program, which
allows local artists to submit their works for a three-year installation in Beverly Park.
In addition to the park space, Beverly Hills is also somewhat unique in that it is home to two pristine
nature preserves, the 18-acre Douglas Evans Nature Preserve and the Hidden Rivers Nature Preserve. Both
pieces of land are restricted by deed to remain in their natural state, and they provide access to
residents for walking or nature study. Both preserves offer a valuable habitat for plant and wildlife
species.
For more information about the Village of Beverly Hills, contact (248) 646-6404 or visit www.villagebeverlyhills.com.
Bingham Farms
If you’re seeking a charming residential community where privacy and peace are in abundance, then
look no further than Bingham Farms. This small bedroom community between Franklin and Beverly Hills, and
south of Birmingham, prides itself on maintaining its peaceful setting while providing quality public
services.
First settled in the early 19th century, the village wasn’t incorporated until 1955. Before then,
it was part of Southfield Township, and residents in what is now Bingham Farms and Franklin, not wanting
to become part of the city of Southfield, decided to create their own villages. Ever since, Bingham
Farms has been committed to being an ideal setting for residents to call home.
The village is part of the Birmingham Public Schools District and is home to Bingham Farms Elementary.
Residents may also become members of the Baldwin Public Library. Policing and fire protection is
provided by the Franklin-Bingham Farms Police and Fire departments, respectively.
Birmingham Next offers a full course of activities for seniors.
Though the village is primarily residential, there are businesses and offices along its Telegraph Road
corridor. Recent restaurants that have opened in this area include Royal Thai Cuisine and Smallz, which
will offer upscale American cuisine.
For more information about Bingham Farms, visit www.binghamfarms.org.
Birmingham
It may only span 4.73 square miles, but there’s nothing small about Birmingham. In fact,
everything about it seems to be on a grand scale: grand homes, grand shopping, grand parks and city
services, and grand living.
This may be why so many people, like Birmingham Shopping District Executive Director Erika Bassett,
want to not only live, but work in Birmingham. “I’ve lived in Birmingham for 19
years,” said Bassett. “I frequent the businesses, and my children are in the schools.”
It’s perhaps this reason that Bassett and others who live and work in the city are such
passionate advocates for its numerous charms. Not that they need to - Birmingham has become a
destination city thanks to its luxury stores and restaurants, excellent schools and beautiful homes and
parks.
These may be some of the reasons why Birmingham attracts more than nine million visitors each year; of
those, two million are unique visitors. It’s a testament to the buzz Birmingham creates in the
larger region and state.
“A huge portion of our downtown has seen infrastructure improvements and parking
improvements,” Bassett said. “That’s really nice to see, beautiful streetscapes that
have really changed the look and feel of our downtown.”
With new developments like the RH Birmingham, a first-class shopping district with more than 300
retailers, Farmers Market, world-class dining and more than 20 parks, Birmingham is heading into 2026
better than ever.
There are also numerous community activities like the Village Fair, art fairs and concerts in the park.
“We have stuff happening every month of the year,” said Bassett. “It’s always
free, and we unite the community.”
For more information about the city of Birmingham, visit www.bhamgov.org. For details on the Birmingham Shopping District,
visit www.downtownbirmingham.com.
Bloomfield Hills
Once upon a time, Bloomfield Hills was all farmland and fruit orchards, an idyllic rural haven for the
business leaders of the 19th century who sought to escape the bustle of the city.
Today, little has changed. This small, picturesque hamlet still boasts an affluent population of
business leaders and top professionals while retaining its natural charm. Rolling hills, small lakes and
canopies of trees arching over roads dotted with stately homes are all part of what makes Bloomfield
Hills one of the most sought-after, exclusive towns in the nation.
“The City Commission of today and years past has been committed to maintaining the community's
character,” said Bloomfield Hills City Manager David Hendrickson. “Bloomfield Hills is where
our residents come home to retreat and enjoy their privacy and the community's natural
beauty.”
Residents also enjoy close proximity to shopping districts nearby, as well as some of the best school
districts in the country. The city is home to the Cranbrook Educational Community, which consists of
Cranbrook Schools, the Cranbrook Academy of Art, the Cranbrook Art Museum, the Cranbrook Institute of
Science and the Cranbrook House and Gardens. The education and museum complex has works from
world-renowned artists and architects as well as stunning landscapes and gardens.
“Cranbrook Educational Community is a world-class institution that is a gem in the
community,” said Hendrickson, “bringing visitors from around the globe.”
In short, there is a lot contained in the city’s 5.04 square miles.
Hendrickson credits the city’s public services with maintaining not only Bloomfield Hills’
natural beauty but providing the high-quality attention residents have come to expect. “The public
services in Bloomfield Hills are intentional,” he said, “with exceptional Public Safety and
Public Works services and a small-town City Hall feel with a high level of service to our
citizens.”
Bloomfield Township
It may be the trees arching over the roads that wind past majestic homes, or it may be the rolling
hills and natural spaces that feel a world apart from the urban bustle only a few miles away.
It may be hard to point to one thing that makes Bloomfield Township special, but they all add up to the
overall quality its residents enjoy: serenity.
“I think it’s the privacy and security that our residents enjoy,” said Mike McCready,
Bloomfield Township supervisor. “We have wonderful police and fire protection, the best schools.
People are lining up to buy houses here.”
Bloomfield Township is home to business leaders and sports and entertainment figures who seek the
solace and beauty contained in the township’s 26 square miles of lakes and hills. It also has some
of the best schools in the state and is covered primarily by the Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham school
districts.
The Bloomfield Township Public Library has numerous media choices, activities and meeting spaces. The
Bloomfield Township Senior Center is housed in a new updated building with a wide array of activities
and services, including a warm water pool, fitness classes and supportive services like home-delivered
meals, minor home repair and medical transportation.
Though the township is mostly residential in character, it has enjoyed business growth in the last few
years, including a new location for Italdesign, an Italian automotive engineering and design firm that
opened a location this past year. Ace Pickleball Club opened in October 2025 on Franklin Road; and a new
Sidecar Slider Bar location is set to open in late 2025 on Telegraph Road. Tee Times Ultimate Indoor
Golf provides a complete golfing experience, with golf simulators, golf pro instruction and food and
drink in a festive atmosphere.
For more information on Bloomfield Township, call (248) 433-7700 or visit www.bloomfieldtwp.org
Franklin
There’s always been a timeless quality about the Village of Franklin. Whether it’s the
historic, small town feel, the small-yet-bustling downtown area or the tree-lined streets of impressive
homes, this 2.7-square mile gem has something for everyone.
“It’s a village that has a lot of history,” said Acting Village Administrator and the
Franklin-Bingham Farms Chief of Police Curt Lawson. “It’s got a historic past and a historic
downtown, which I think makes it very unique.”
Franklin is indeed one of the most unique of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce six-member
communities. With modern amenities and a downtown district of shops and restaurants, Franklin still
upholds that old-time charm that makes you feel like you’re in a Norman Rockwell painting.
Lawson said the village enjoys stellar public services and a safe environment where families enjoy
community activities year round. He credits a community policing model that engages with residents and
builds trust with the community. “We have a police department that understands the importance of
customer service,” said Lawson. “The vast majority of the residents are extremely supportive
of their police department, and you don’t see that in a lot of other jurisdictions.”
Activities like Labor Day Round Up, Music on the Greens and Family Fun Days are sponsored by the
Franklin Community Association, a civic organization made up of community members who are dedicated to
enhancing the quality of life for Franklin residents.
According to Lawson, it’s the multiple civic organizations that demonstrate the dedication the
residents have to the village they call home. “The people who live here want to be involved in
their community,” he said. “They’re very passionate about keeping the village with
that historic aura.”
Next up for the village is welcoming three new administrators: there will be a new village
administrator, village clerk and village treasurer this year. Also, the village will explore new ways to
make walking in the village safer for pedestrians and improve walkability.
