Key Approval Received for Northville Downs Project to Restore Middle Rouge River

In an important development, the Northville Downs Project has gained a key approval for the restoration of the Middle Rouge River. This has been achieved courtesy of the Michigan Strategic Fund, a component of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., which gave its approval to transfer the public areas of this emerging mixed-use development in downtown Northville to the Wayne County Land Bank.

Back in 2018, the project, managed by Hunter Pasteur, purchased the 48-acre site which was previously home to the Northville Down racehorse track. The ambitious plans for this site include approximately 500 new homes, condominiums, and apartments, along with retail areas containing up to three restaurants and 15 acres dedicated to public parks and green spaces. The project, with a total worth of $350 million, is expected to reach completion by 2028.

Restoring the River and Creating a Park

This new development by the City of Northville Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, in collaboration with Hunter Pasteur Northville, will entail the transformation of roughly 7.85 acres of former horseracing track and a brownfield site. The main goal of this redevelopment is the ‘daylighting’ of a river and the creation of an adjacent public park.

The term ‘daylighting’ in this context refers to removing an existing century-old tunnel under the former Northville Downs horse track, a tunnel that has been carrying a section of the Middle Rouge River for more than 400 yards. This project will rejuvenate the otherwise contaminated property, enhance the natural state of the river, and create a public recreational area.

Moving Property to the Wayne County Land Bank

In order to be reimbursed for eligible activity costs related to the daylighted river and park creation, the property will be transferred to the Wayne County Land Bank. This enables the project to leverage state tax capture intended to reimburse the developer for public infrastructure improvement costs. Though the City of Northville is not typically eligible for infrastructure improvement costs, this transfer allows the project to continue in the best interest of the public.

This ambitious project will not only transform a previously contaminated brownfield site, but it will also create a significant public park that benefits the wider community both ecologically and recreationally.

For more detailed information about the project, visit the official Northville Downs site.