The Northville Township Board of Trustees will ask residents to approve a millage so it can purchase most of the 414-acre former Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital for $23.5 million and preserve much of it as parkland.
The property owned by REIS Northville was the focus of an annexation controversy last year when REIS sought to have the property annexed to Livonia in hopes of getting approval for an $800-million commercial and residential development. Livonia voters defeated the ballot measure in August.
Township Supervisor Mark Abbo said REIS was open to selling the property because of the downturn in the economy.
“We have a 30-day due diligence period to finalize a transaction and then proceed to a millage request of our voters to fund the purchase price,” Abbo said.
Under the agreement, REIS would keep 70-95 acres of land with the remaining 319-344 acres owned by the township.
Other details include cutting area zoned for development by 50% and saving trees.
The cleanup of contamination on the site would be funded by the REIS-owned part of property through a brownfield program.
“Throughout the annexation process and still today, residents have called upon the board to find a way to limit the density on the property and to maintain as much green space as possible,” said Sue Hillebrand, Northville Township clerk.
“This agreement does just that, and the voters of the township will have the opportunity to vote on the best way to move forward.”
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