However, the city does not seem to have a desire to build on the land, and the two townships are floating ideas with Detroit officials and developers to acquire the property for development. It's zoned for industrial use and research and development in both townships.
"Our board of trustees has been talking about buying the land to sell to a developer for projects that would be consistent with the zoning and would improve on the land," says Chip Snider, manager of Northville Township. About 83% of the township tax base is from residential property, Snider says. The board would like to own the 461 acres and build a research park on the property.
However, Detroit officials have recently fallen silent about selling the property. "They're not talking. We've been trying to determine what the city wants by calling Paul Bernard, the director of the planning and development department. Now, we're trying to go through Mayor Dennis Archer's office. We're unable to determine Detroit's intentions," Snider tells GlobeSt.com. Bernard did not return phone calls to GlobeSt.com.
Larry Emmons, senior vice president of Grubb and Ellis Co. of Southfield, says he's also been talking with Bernard, and has switched gears to try to reach the mayor's office about the property. Emmons says he represents a firm that wants to develop the Plymouth land for an industrial park.
He said it could have something to do with the price the city wants for the land. However, Emmons said he would not reveal the company he's representing, nor the land price that's on the table. The land could sell for about $35,000 an acre, he says. He said the land would be popular if it was available, as it's such a large, undeveloped parcel near current infrastructure.
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