Community Profile

 
Berkley:


Incorporated in 1926 and home to 15,531 residents, Berkley is one of the great southeast Michigan communities that offer an small town feel with advantages of being located close to larger metropolitan areas. Tree lined streets, wonderful parks, quaint single family detached homes, excellent schools and a dedication to maintaining its heritage makes this mature community everything a person could want. Recognizable Woodward businesses include the historic Vinsetta Garage; the city’s gathering place, the Coffee Beanery, and watering hole the Blarney Stone. The city is also home many special events including Oakland County’s oldest Holiday Parade, Berkley Cruisefest, the official kick-off to the Woodward Dream Cruise and more. It is the ideal location for any production looking for a small town vintage feel while having the amenities of a big city close by.
 
For more information on obtaining a film permit please contact City Clerk, Mary Hughes at mhughes@berkleymich.net or 248-658-3300. To learn more about the city of Berkley visit www.berkleymich.com.
 





Birmingham
Dating back to the 1820’s, Birmingham is a City steeped in history that has evolved over the years into the premier traditional downtown in the region. High quality downtown streetscapes, beautiful shops and boutiques, quality restaurants, tree lined residential settings and beautifully maintained parks make Birmingham ideal for filming many types of scenes.
 
30 mile north of downtown Detroit, this community offers a small-town feel with big city amenities. Comprised of mainly higher end beautiful single family homes ranging from historic to modern with a number of new condo developments Birmingham can fit any of your filming needs. Featured along the Woodward corridor location scouts will find the quintessential downtown area. An walkable downtown, complete with a mixture of high end and locally owned retail, a world class hotel, nightlife hot spots, parks and residential housing make filming in the area a distinctly unique and convenient experience. Most recently the HBO production Hung utilized Birmingham as the back drop to many of its scenes.
 
Historic Sites
Ford Peabody Home - Initially built as a home, it is a brick, Second Empire style building upon a stone foundation. It features a slate mansard roof, carved stone lintels and a tower of bay windows. After serving as a residence, the structure housed the Birmingham Masonic Temple from 1922-1968.
 
 
For more information on filming in Birmingham please contact their Film Liaison, Matt Baka at 248-530-1848. To obtain a full listing of all film permitting requirements please visit the City of Birmingham’s website. Once the Production Filming Permit Application has been submitted production film permits are typically issued in 4-7 business days depending on the project.  For more information on filming in the Birmingham Principal Shopping District contact Director John Heiney at 248-530-1250.
 
 
 




Bloomfield Hills:
Covering just five miles this suburban enclave is the bastion of gracious and elegant estates. The city is comprised of homes designed by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright, Eero Saarinen, J. Robert F. Swanson and Minoru Yamasaki whose owners are some of the wealthiest and most powerful Michiganders in the state. If you are looking for a location that requires a home setting that quietly says power, money and opulence this is your city.
 
Many of the estates in this community are secluded behind ivied walls, elegant gates with breathtaking landscaping. These stately homes also feature caretaker or in-law cottages, terraced gardens and ponds, private tennis courts, pools, private lake & golf course access which are standard features. In addition to the amazing private residences of the city, Bloomfield Hills is also home to the world renowned Cranbrook Educational Center.
 




Historic Landmark:
Cranbrook Educational Community, Cranbrook is a cultural, educational and religious complex composed of six autonomous institutions with numerous outbuildings and gardens located on a 300-acre campus. The complex includes Cranbrook House, Meeting House, Christ Church, Cranbrook School for Boys, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Kingswood School for Girls, and the Cranbrook Institute of Science. Most buildings reflect English collegiate inspiration with stunning Gothic and Tudor elements, some elegant Modernistic structures, and Arts and Crafts interiors. Exquisite landscape architecture complements the structures and unites the campus into a showcase of early twentieth century architectural styles. The design of the complex represents the artistic philosophy of George Gough and Ellen Scripps Booth, of Detroit's prominent Detroit News editorial families combining artistic collaboration, hand craftsmanship, and functionalism. World renowned architect Albert Kahn of Detroit designed the family's Late Gothic Revival residence, named Cranbrook House, in 1917 and 1918. George Booth created the Tudor Meeting House, and Bertham Goodhue and Associates designed the exquisite Gothic Revival Christ Church. The Kingswood School for Girls is considered to be the best work in the U.S. of architect Eliel Saarinen. Woodcarver John Kirchmayer, Pewabic ceramist Mary Chase Stratton, architect Eliel Saarinen and his wife interior decorator Loja Saarinen, and sculptor Carl Milles contributed some of their best works in the United States to Cranbrook. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989 and continues to attract both students and visitors to its outstanding campus
 
For more information on obtaining film permits for the City of Bloomfield Hills please contact the City of Bloomfield Hills City Manager, Jay Cravens office at 248-644-1520
 
Bloomfield Township
Packed into 25 miles, Bloomfield Township offers an unparalled natural beauty uncommon among the other 11 Woodward corridor communities. Possessing rolling hills, scenic winding roads and a variety of lakes, this residential community is similar to Bloomfield Hills, but with a wider variety of housing options. Alongside one of a kind estates there are a variety of affordable housing options that can be utilized for exterior shots.  In addition to diversity of housing and scenic nature backdrop the city is home to many office parks key prestigious landmarks such as the Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church and the legendary Oakland Hills Country Club.
 
Historic Landmarks: 
Oakland Hills Country Club, Founded in 1916, Oakland Hills Country Club has, and will continue to play a significant role in the history of golf in the United States. Walter Hagen, five time PGA Champion, was the club's first head professional. The South Course has played host to 16 Major Championships including: the 35th Ryder Cup in 2004; three PGA Championships -- including the 90th PGA Championship in 2008; six U.S. Opens; two U.S. Senior Opens; U.S. Women’s Amateur; U.S. Men’s Amateur; Western Open; and the Carling World Open. Some of the greatest players ever to play the game including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Ben Hogan have competed and won on the famed South Course, also known as "The Monster"
 
For more information on the process for obtaining an film permit for Bloomfield Township please contact the City Clerks office at 248-433-7700. For more information on the Bloomfield Township community please visit their website www.bloomfieldtwp.org.
 


Detroit:


The largest urban city in the state, the motor city has the perfect location for you. Whether you are seeking a gritty urban shot or the perfect house for an exterior shot Detroit has exactly what you are looking for. Along Woodward Avenue there are several Detroit neighborhoods that offer a wide array or location choices including downtown Detroit, historic area’s Boston Edison/Arden Park, New Center, Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest and culture rich Midtown.
 





Located in these enclaves are treasure troves such as
Cultural Gems – Detroit Opera Theater, Max M. Fisher Music Theater, The Fisher Theater, Detroit Institute of Art, home to the Diego Rivera mural “Industry”
Woodlawn Cemetery- one of the most historic cemeteries in the country with the remains of such leaders like William Scripps, John & Horace Dodge, Edsel Ford and Roy Chapin resting there.
Architectural Masterpieces – The Fisher Building, the Renaissance Center, the Guardian Building, the Buhl Building
Historic Homes – The Dodge Brother’s, Henry & Clara Ford, Berry Gordy, J.L Hudson and more
Historic Churches – Metropolitan Untied Methodist Church, Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Abyssinia Interdenominational Church 
Unique Entertainment Venues – The Majestic, one of the oldest continually operating bowling alley in the country and home to one the most important popular and punk music theaters in the country.
 
To date Detroit has been home to some of the most significant films shot in Michigan including Four Brothers, Red Dawn, Transformers, Out of Sight,. Whip It, the Irishman and more. For more information on filming in Detroit please contact Detroit Film Office Director, Erica Hill at 313-224-4422 or dfo@detroitmi.gov.  For a full listing of forms necessary to obtain a Detroit Film Office permit please visit www.ci.detroit.mi.us. All forms must be submitted to the DFO at least one month prior to filming. Once all of the appropriate paperwork has been turned into the DFO the typical turnaround time for a permit to be issued is 48-72 hours depending on the project. More information regarding historic landmarks can be found by visiting the WA3’s Tour section of this website.
 


Ferndale

Known as Funky Ferndale, the Woodward gateway to Oakland County has a personality all its own. Ferndale is truly a melting pot home to a large Lesbian, Gay and Trans-gendered community it is a welcoming community that prides itself on being a “Good Neighbor”. That saying extends into the city’s leadership being among the first communities in the state to create a streamlined process for filmmakers seeking to shine their spotlight on the city. 
 
Ferndale comprised mainly of single family homes has residencies that range from quaint starter bungalow’s to historic homes. At the core of this community’s DNA is it’s thriving downtown. Home to a mix of mostly locally owned retail, hospitality and service based businesses, there is always a unique shot right around the corner. From local legendary haunts such as vintage clothier Mother Fletchers to 1970’s inspired Boogie Fever, there is something for every scene.
 
Landmark:
Woodward Tribute, a totem pole comprised of solar panels that displays images of what makes Woodward such unique American roadway, located at the corner of Cambourne and Woodward.
 
As one of the film’s favorite cities in the state, Ferndale has been home to several feature and made for television films including, Whip It, Prayers for Bobby, Monster Garage Motor City and more. For more information on filming in fabulous Ferndale contact Shirley Aahlgrim, City of Ferndale, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager, at 248-546-2360 or saahlgrim@ferndale-mi.com.  For more information on filming in the downtown Ferndale area contact Cristina Sheppard-Deicus, Executive Director, Ferndale Downtown Development Authority at 248-546-1632 or cristina@downtownferndale.com.
 
The city requests that a full application be in their office at least 10 days prior to shooting. Processing of permit fee is $250 non refundable. A full fee schedule is available by contacting Shirley Aahlgrim in the city manager’s office. The typical turnaround time for permit issuance once all necessary documents are completed is 7 business days.
 


Highland Park
One of the most historic cities along Woodward it is the home to the first moving assembly plant, several historic neighborhoods, the world’s first modern limited access freeway and more. Highland Park has also been home to some of the biggest films to have come to Michigan, with Grand Torino, Eight Mile, Gifted Hands and more. The perfect combination of urban grit and historic charm make this city your choice when it comes to getting that perfect warehouse shot for your action film or home shot for a period piece. 
 
Historic Landmarks
The Highland Park Ford Plant, The first moving assembly line plant in the world it was here where the father of the automobile birthed a new industry and the $5 dollar day. Designed by Albert Khan the plant occupied more than 500, 000 square feet at one time and was literally a city within a city. In 1978 the plant was designated a National Historic Landmark and was sold to a private management firm in 1981. Currently 80% of the property has been developed into a modern day retail strip mall with the original administration building and several factory buildings still intact.
 



McGregor Library, The need for a public library worthy of Highland Park’s growing population and prosperity was answered in 1918 by the donation of a building and land by Katherine and Tracy McGregor. The building, originally the home of a local businessman and major property owner Captain William Stevens, was converted by Katherine Whitney McGregor into a home for "homeless, crippled, and backward children" in 1903. She closed the home and donated it to the City of Highland Park on the stipulation that it be replaced as soon as possible with a new library building which would cost at least $255,000 and be bigger more beautiful than the Utley Library, the most recent branch of the Detroit Public Library two miles south on Woodward Avenue. The new McGregor Library was dedicated on March 5, 1926, and was the recipient of the Gold Medal for Architectural Merit by the AIA for 1926. Among the many gifts to the library by proud Highland Parkers are over 60 works by Detroit artist Francis Petrus Paulus, a founder of the Scarab Club and world renowned for his etchings. The library has was closed in 2002. There are currently efforts to re-open it in 2010 through a public private partnership.
 
For more information about obtaining a film permit, fee schedule and more please contact Yvette L. Robinson at 313-252-0050 ext 257, YRobinson@HighlandParkCity.us  or
Chief Ted Cadwell at 313-252-0050 ext. 244, TCadwell@HighlandParkCity.us . For more information on the City of Highland Park please visit www.highlandparkcity.us.
 
 
Huntington Woods
A mature community known as the “City of Homes” offers location scouts the perfect setting for either interior or exterior shots. The homes offer a traditional look, set on winding roads and hills which gives residents and visitors a feeling as if they are miles away from life in the big city. It is also home to two historic districts, the Hill Historic District and the Rackham Golf Course Historic District.
 
Historic Landmarks:
 
The Hill District-
In the Hill District there are more houses designed by legendary architects such as Albert Khan, Minoru Yamasaki and Eero Sarrinen than any other city in Southeast Michigan.
Rackham Golf District -
In the Rackham Golf Course District, location scouts and producers will find one of the most historic gold courses in the state. Sitting on 120 acres of land with a spectacular clubhouse and 18 hole golf course designed by Donald Ross, Rackham was donated to the City of Detroit in 1924 with the clause that it be open to the public. The surrounding area was later developed into what is now Huntington Woods.
 
 
For more information on obtaining film permitting process, fees and more please contact City Clerk, Ruth Franzoni at 248-541-4300 or rfranzoni@ci.huntington-woods.mi.us. For more information about the City of Huntington Woods, please visit www.ci.huntington-woods.mi.us. 
 
Pleasant Ridge
One of the smallest communities in along Woodward it is also the quintessential family community. With stately historic homes, beautiful parks and a small town charm, there’s a mystique to city making it the perfect location for your next film. Many of the cities house’s the line the tree covered streets are listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. In addition to the many location opportunities for green space and housing, Pleasant Ridge also offers a state of the art recreational center. 
 
Historic Landmarks
 
Pleasant Ridge Historic District, The historic district is an early twentieth-century neighborhood containing a concentration of notable examples of Colonial and period revival, Prairie School and arts-and-crafts-inspired single-family houses set on a series of boulevard streets. The well preserved neighborhood contains Pleasant Ridge's most architecturally distinguished historic homes. The district contains homes and a former police station that provides direct associations with Pleasant Ridge's founding years as an independent community."
 
For more information about obtaining a film permit, fee schedule and more please contact City Manager Sherry Ball at 248-541-2900 or at citymanager@cityofpleasantridge.org. For more information about the city please visit www.cityofplesantridge.com.
 
Pontiac
Much like Detroit and Highland Park, Pontiac has a proud manufacturing past. With General Motors making substantial investments in the area during the companies heyday’s in the 1950’s and 60’s the community thrived. Filled with historic gems and plenty of open retail spaces the city is a prime location for a number of location shots. The former Oakland County Courthouse, now the Lafayette Grande with its various décor for each individual room is great whether you are shooting a 1920’s nightclub scene or 1950’s cocktail hour scene in their vintage martini bar. In the downtown area there are a number of properties that are available for usage by film production companies to use for office space or to create their perfect scene.
 



Historic Landmarks
Clutch Cargo’s, Constructed in 1928, the building served as the last Pontiac home of the First Congregational Church. It features a two-story, front-gabled, stone structure with a large, three-story, square tower rising from the roof, a cross gable with two-story arched entryway, and round tower with conical roof. Buttresses and paired pointed-arch windows with decorative tracery adorn the side elevations. After the congregation vacated the building in the 1990s, the interior was renovated to house what is now a popular bar and dance club, Clutch Cargo's."
 
Franklin Boulevard Historic District, Built between 1845 and 1930, this neighborhood of 93 structures retains a turn-of-the-century appearance with its mix of Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Stick Style and Colonial Revival architecture. Founded in 1830, the village of Franklin developed as a rural community and began to construct a small business center that included a mill and wagon making shop by the late 1830s. During Michigan's early period of industrial growth (1880-1920), prominent leaders of Michigan's timber, mining, publishing, carriage and automobile industries made their homes in this area. Most notably, the 1848 Italian Villa-style Myrick-Palmer House located at 223 West Huron Street was home to Charles H. Palmer, a nineteenth-century educator and copper miner.
 
Pontiac Commercial Historic District, The Pontiac Commercial Historic District is one of nine blocks that formed the commercial core of downtown Pontiac at its peak. The district represents the second and third generation of commercial buildings located at the center of the original plat of the city of Pontiac. The block is completely commercial, with buildings being two to three stories in height with 20 foot bay modules. Early twentieth century office and bank towers are also present. The district is historically significant for many reasons. It encompasses the core of the commercial area of one of Michigan's first cities developed outside of Detroit. Many of the buildings are only the second generation located on the 1818 plat of the city's original development. It also contains the earliest commercial structures still existing in Pontiac. The economic health of the city between the 1860s and the late 1920s can be seen in the architectural excellence of original façades, façade remodeling efforts on the mid-nineteenth century structures, and the six completely new buildings built between 1909 and 1929. The façades date from about 1865 to 1929 and exhibit Italianate Commercial, Tapestry Brick, Commercial, and Art Deco, Neo-Classical Revival, Renaissance Revival, and Tudor Revival styles. "
 
For more information on obtaining a film permit, fee schedule, potential locations and more please contact the City of Pontiac City Clerk at 248-758-3000 Khalfani Stephens with the Pontiac Growth Group at 248-758-3900 or at kstephens@pontiac.mi.us. For more information about the City of Pontiac visit www.pontiac.mi.us.
 
Royal Oak
One of the largest communities in South Oakland County has been featured in several films over the last three years: Prayers for Bobby, Grand Torino and Whip It. Along with one of the most efficient permitting processes in the area, the variety of location shots makes Royal Oak a prime great place to film. With its diverse housing stock of apartments, several historic districts and downtown condo developments no matter what your location needs are for housing shots the Royal Oak has it all. As one of the leading suburbs in downtown development the city has viberant nightlife, filled with restaurants, bars and performance venues. During the day residents are able to take in a great farmers market and of course the award winning Detroit Zoo.
 
Historic Landmarks:
 
Detroit Zoological Park, Barless exhibits thrilled crowds who flocked to the Detroit Zoological Park on opening day, August 1, 1928. Organized in 1911, the Detroit Zoological Society commissioned Boston landscape architect Arthur Shurtleff to plan the advanced zoo using modern concepts of geographical animal grouping and moated exhibits pioneered by the Hagenbecks of Germany. In the context of zoo design in the United States, the Detroit Zoological Park was one of the first to utilize a master plan prepared by a landscape architect. Its designer was Boston's Arthur A. Shurtleff, a nationally known landscape architect of the early twentieth century. The Detroit Zoo is situated in a 125-acre naturalistic park featuring outstanding zoological exhibits and outdoor animal environments. Among its notable current exhibits is The Artic Ring of Life - the world's largest polar bear exhibit with a 70-foot underwater viewing tunnel. The National Amphibian Conservation Center features dozens of fascinating amphibians and highlights the critical role these creatures play in the environment. The Wildlife Interpretive Gallery is a multidisciplinary facility designed to interpret wildlife using theater, video, multi-media computers, interactive displays, art and nature. The Zoo also includes a miniature railroad."
 
First Baptist Church of Royal Oak, In January 1839, 20 people organized the First Baptist Church of Royal Oak congregation, 10 of whom were baptized in the Red Run Creek. Charter member Hamlet Harris, ""a free colored person"" according to the 1840 census, donated $25 towards the construction of the first church that was built near Main and Third streets. In 1876, Athalinda Phelps donated the land, and the Reverend Silas Finn provided his labor and half of the money required to build a second church - known as the ""Greek Cross Church."" All subsequent churches were erected on the present site on Main Street. The Tabernacle followed in 1918, the first brick sanctuary in 1921 and the adjacent educational building in 1950. The present sanctuary was erected in 1965."
 
























National Shrine of the Little Flower,The National Shrine of the Little Flower was founded as a Catholic parish in 1925, just prior to the canonization of St. Therese of Lisieux, known as ""The Little Flower.” The church was designated a National Shrine by the National Conference of Bishops in 1998. The Church building is one of the finest examples of Art Deco in the country, known for its 90-foot Charity Crucifixion Tower. The entire church is built with Massachusetts granite and Indiana limestone interspersed with stone blocks from America's states and territories. Each is carved with the state name and flower. Around the base of the tower are several writings taken from scripture, quotes from Presidents Lincoln and Washington, a variety of crosses and the cornerstone dated 1929 in roman numerals
 
For more information on obtaining film permits, fee schedules and more please contact City of Royal Oak Deputy Police Chief, Corrigan O'Donohue at (248) 246-3525. For information about utilizing downtown business contact Stephanie McIntyre, Executive Director, Royal Downtown Development Authority at 248-246-3280 or  stephaniem@ci.royal-oak.mi.us.
For more information about obtaining a film permit, fee schedule and more please contact Yvette L. Robinson at 313-252-0050 ext 257, YRobinson@HighlandParkCity.us  or
Chief Ted Cadwell at 313-252-0050 ext. 244, TCadwell@HighlandParkCity.us . For more information on the City of Highland Park please visit www.highlandparkcity.us.