ANN ARBOR HILLS
The Ann Arbor Hills area is one of the most desirable, prestigous, stable neighborhoods in all of Ann Arbor as it is less than one mile form the University of Michigan’s Central Campus, Dental School, Life Sciences and the University of Michigan Medical Complex.
The “Ann Arbor Hills” moniker is actually a legal description of a certain portion of the area bound by Hill Street to the West, Geddes Road to the North and Washtenaw Avenue wraps around the area referred to as “Ann Arbor Hills” to the South and East.
In actuality, the Geddes/Arboretum area, College Heights, and Toumy Hills are also part of what is loosely referred to as “Ann Arbor Hills” by most lay people. In fact, the Angell Elementary School district would be a more accurate description of what Real Estate is encompassed in Ann Arbor Hills. Most people believe it simply means the homes located across Washtenaw from the Burns Park side, and off of Washtenaw at Sheridan and Arlington.
The incredible distinction the Ann Arbor Hills area has from all other Central Ann Arbor properties, is that most of the lots are 5/8 of an acre or larger. These are not just any lots either, they are/were gorgeous building sites at one time with towering mature trees, rolling land and winding private streets.
The neighborhoods were developed over time, as the homes closest to Angell School are the oldest homes in the overall Ann Arbor Hills neighborhood. There are several examples of vintage early century Tudors, as well as many other distinctive, stately, architectural gems, some designed by the famous architect Albert Kahn of Detroit. And several Frank Lloyd Wright inspired houses in this area as well.
The Angell elementary school is top notch and has the grand distinction of being the only Elementary school in Ann Arbor literally adjacent to Fraternities, Sororities and Single Family homes. Parents can happily drop or walk there kids to school with ease and it won’t take them longer than 10 minutes if in the College Heights area.
The Ann Arbor Hills area’s desirability in addition to its outstanding location offers several other unique treasures:
The Nichol’s Arboretum is directly accessed off of Geddes Road and is part of the University of Michigan’s glorious multiple acre park open to the public. The property spans from the top of Geddes Road all the way down to the Huron River, with walking paths on the way! This incredible property has a major peony garden in it’s center and Ann Arbor residents use the “Arb” daily to walk their dogs, jog, hang out for a picnic or sled in the winter!
Another little gem the Ann Arbor Hills area has to offer is Gallup Park! the pedestrian entrance is right off of Geddes Road and is maintained by Washtenaw County. There is an enormous pond formed off the Huron River, an eleven mile jogging, walking, rollerblading path that goes from the base of the Nichols Arboretum to the Dam at Dixboro and Geddes. There are canoes to rent, ducks to feed, frogs to catch and multiple bridges to watch the sun set!
If swimming and tennis are our passions, the Ann Arbor Racquet Club is located discreetly in Ann Arbor Hills at Devonshire and Hickory Lane off of Geddes Road. Home owners in Ann Arbor Hills over the past 40 years have enjoyed the Club immensely, especially on Sunday nights for grilling “Coals and Ice” and more importantly, their children can safely walk or ride bikes to the Racquet Club without crossing a major street to get there!
Ann Arbor Hills has the marvelous distinction of being located less than one mile from Central Campus, and less than ten minutes away from three major hospitals: The University of Michigan Medical Center, St. Joseph Mercy Health Campus and the VA Hospital in Ann Arbor. This allows physicians in the Ann Arbor Hills area short commutes to all three hospitals, especially handy when they are “on call”!
The arteries considered the main roads through Ann Arbor Hills are Devonshire, Arlington, Hill Street, Geddes, Sheridan, Melrose, Londonderry, Overridge and Toumy.
Everything is just so convenient and accessible from this Ann Arbor Hills neighborhood. Including: the U of M Central Campus, U of M Dental School, U of M Medical Complex, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, the new Arbor Hills shopping Center, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, Churches, Synagogues, shopping and freeways.
Ann Arbor Hills also boasts a private pre-school called the “Ann Arbor Hills School”. This school is constantly praised by families whose children have had the privilege to attend, and is located smack in the middle of the neighborhood!