NORTHVILLE (WWJ) — The long-debated development at the former site of the Northville Downs racetrack took a big step forward Monday.
Planning for The Downs in Northville began about eight years ago and on Monday officials broke ground on the $350 million project, a couple months after Michigan’s last remaining harness racing horse track permanently closed.
The Downs will feature some 450 residential units — in the form of apartments, luxury condos and townhomes — retail space and about 15 acres of public parks and greenspace.
The project also includes the so-called “daylighting” of the Middle Rouge River, which was covered decades ago when the racetrack needed more parking spaces, according to Randy Wertheimer, CEO of developer Hunter Pasteur.
“They paved over 1,100 feet of the Middle Rouge River. And we are going to literally open up the river and create an 11-acre park around this riverwalk,” Wertheimer said, noting the riverwalk will connect to the nearby Hines Park trailhead and Ford Field in Downtown Northville.
Wertheimer said “there’s tons of ecological benefits” to uncovering the river, which is currently covered by asphalt.
“I’d like the city of Northville, Wayne County and the state of Michigan to know how seriously our development team takes on the obligation and honor to execute the redevelopment of the Northville Downs RT. We together will create a destination that will make all of us proud for generations to come,” Wertheimer said.
While Monday marked the ceremonial groundbreaking, crews have already started work on the site, including the main building going through asbestos abatement.
The project is expected to be completed by late 2027 or early 2028.
“This was a big deal and it’s meant a great deal to Northville over the years. It was time to transition to the next era. This used to be the home for the Wayne County Fair, which was bigger than the state fair, right in this area,” Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull said.