CHARING CROSS

The Charing Cross area in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is a highly desirable, affluent residential community known for its spacious lots, custom-built homes, and rich local history. It is generally located east of Woodward Avenue.

Here are the key details and information about the area:

Neighborhood and Housing

  • Charing Cross Estates: The area is organized around the Charing Cross Estates Association, which maintains common areas, entrances, and hosts seasonal neighborhood gatherings.

  • Housing: The neighborhood is comprised of medium-sized to large single-family homes, many of which are situated on estate-sized lots.
  • Age of Homes: Houses in the Charing Cross area were constructed over a large span of time, generally between the 1940s and 1999 for the core neighborhood. However, there are newer, multi-million dollar estates built more recently, reflecting its continued prestige.
  • Home Value: Properties in this area are high-end. Recent active, pending, and sold homes range significantly, with some ranging from the high six figures up to multi-million dollar estates (e.g., $3,250,000 to nearly $6,000,000 for newer, larger homes). Lot sizes are typically large, often one acre or more.
  • Sub-Neighborhoods: The larger area includes distinct communities like Charing Cross Highlands and is near other high-end neighborhoods like Bloomfield Hunt Club Estates.
  • Overall Bloomfield Hills Context: Bloomfield Hills consistently ranks as one of the top wealthiest cities in the United States, valuing quiet, rural residential properties with large, wooded lots and privacy. Many residents hold high-profile professional and executive positions.

Location and Accessibility

  • Major Roads: The Charing Cross area is bisected by West Wattles Road and is bordered by East Long Lake Road to the north and close to West Big Beaver Road to the south.

  • Proximity to Key Areas:
  • It is located near the prestigious Cranbrook School and the Cranbrook Institute of Science and Art.
  • It offers convenient access to major roads like Telegraph Road (US-24) and I-696, making for an easier commute to other parts of the Detroit metro area.

Historical Significance

  • Commuter Rail History: The area is notable for the former Charing Cross station on the Detroit to Pontiac commuter rail line of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad.
  • The station was an intermediate stop built in 1930 as part of a significant (though never fully realized) rail and road project.
  • While the commuter service was discontinued in 1983, the remains of the station's stairs, ramp, and platform are still visible off of Charing Cross Road, near the railway that the Amtrak Wolverine still uses.
  • Bloomfield Estates: The Charing Cross area is part of the larger Bloomfield Estates Subdivision, which was developed starting around 1914 by Judson Bradway. The road itself, Charing Cross Road, was an old pioneer trail dating back to the 1800s, previously known as the "Angling Road." The distinctive Art Deco entrance columns at Charing Cross Road and Woodward are believed to have been designed by the famed architect Eliel Saarinen.

Schools

The area is served by the highly-rated Bloomfield Hills Schools district. Depending on the exact address, assigned schools may include:

  • Elementary: Harlan Elementary School (or Way Elementary, which also serves the area)

  • Middle School: Derby Middle School (or East Hills Middle School)

  • High School: Ernest W. Seaholm High School or Bloomfield Hills High School (rated 10/10)