He adds his company has sold about 115 homes in two years.

Now, Visteon Corp., the former parts branch of Ford Motor Co., unofficially says it may locate its headquarters about a mile away. The township recently approved a 12-year, $31-million tax abatement for Visteon. The abatements are for possible development of a 220-acre site near I-94 and and I-275, with about $325 million of planned new development, including new infrastructure for roads, water, and other necessities.

The land is a former sand and gravel quarry from the 1950s.

Visteon has not purchased the property yet, The property owners are attempting to get the land rezoned from agriculture to office technology uses. The township has been told the company wants to use future buildings on the site for offices, technology and research and development space.

The Smith Group of Detroit is working on the site plans, and the company has promised to bring about 3,600 employees to the site. Michaelson says this development can only help his project.

"With that many employees coming to the area, they're going to need homes, and we already have Visteon employees living in the houses up now. Having 3,600 white-collar workers in the area can't hurt," he says.

The developer says his firm is finding that the area is being seen as more upscale as the project moves along. His company built the mixed-use project with linear streets and scattered parks, and $250,000 houses. The multifamily units and the retail will come later after more homes are sold, Michaelson adds.