NORTHVILLE, Mich. (WWJ) -- Another proposal for the redevelopment of Northville Downs is being put forward, as four developers are set to pitch a conceptual design to the Northville Planning Commission at the end of the month.
The group of developers will present their plans for “The Downs” -- a mixed-use site featuring more than 170 apartments, 53 condos, 28 row houses, 56 single-family homes and more than 16,000 square-feet of retail space -- to the planning commission on Aug. 30.
If the idea sounds familiar, that’s because Hunter Pasteur Homes previously proposed plans for a development at the site of the harness horse racing track back in 2019. That plan had called for 600 homes, but the developers pulled the plug after residents, city council members and the planning commission objected to the plan over concerns about density.
Now Hunter Pasteur is joined by three other companies -- Toll Brothers, The Forbes Company and Oboran -- with a restructured plan for the 49-acre site.
Northville Downs shut down in 2018, but restarted operations last year, signing a contract to continue harness racing until at least 2024. It is not clear whether the new development could go ahead before then.
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Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull tells WWJ the new plan better matches the city’s future, as it features more walkability, with pathways connecting to city, county and state parks.
Turnbull says the wide range of housing units would bring a lot of different people to the area.
“Some apartments are important to bring the youth in, some condos and some homes to have all different levels for sustainability in the long-term,” Turnbull told WWJ. “We want to make sure we invite those young families into Northville, too. From our standpoint, mixed-use and mixed activities on the housing and the density, it’s okay.”
Plans for the new development would include “daylighting” the Rouge River, which runs underneath the racetrack and connecting it with the Northville River system and walkways, according to Turnbull, which he says would be “outstanding.”
While the conceptual plan will be pitched at the end of the month, no formal action is will be taken, according to a report.