Novi's Grand River Avenue corridor between Beck and Taft roads could see more than $407 million in new construction after the Novi City Council signaled its support Monday, July 27, for developer Blair Bowman Jr. to seek state brownfield funding for the project.
The council's backing, delivered after a three-hour public meeting, clears Bowman to approach the Michigan Economic Development Corporation about the Transformational Brownfield Program for "Novi City West." The 12-component, mixed-use development would span 55 acres of post-industrial land adjacent to the Vibe Credit Union Showplace, which Bowman co-owns.
As we reported July 24, the project would bring more than 1 million new square feet to a corridor the city rezoned from light industrial to City West District years ago but that has seen little investment in decades. According to the city's council packet, the plan includes a 225-room Cambria Hotel, a 40,000-square-foot specialty grocery store, more than 750 housing units in multiple formats, restaurants, retail, and office space.
Housing would include roughly 110 for-sale townhomes built by Pulte Homes, 180-plus for-sale neuro-inclusive community units developed with Three Oaks Communities (where 25% of units would serve developmentally or intellectually disabled adults), and more than 450 multi-family rental apartments. Two restaurants, a farm-to-table concept and a finer-dining spot, plus an indoor-outdoor entertainment venue called "The Mix" round out the culinary side, with Upfront Hospitality's Jarod and Abby Gadbow as culinary partners.
What it means financially
The council packet projects the development would create about 1,000 construction jobs and 410-plus permanent positions. The city currently collects roughly $305,000 a year in taxes from the site; after projected completion in 2031, annual collections would rise to about $2.3 million, with a net annual benefit of $1.37 million after developer reimbursements.
Bowman estimated the Transformational Brownfield Program could reimburse approximately $230 million to $240 million over 30 years, according to WXYZ. The program captures only newly generated tax revenue after construction, not existing taxes. No upfront city general fund or state dollars are required.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation July 22 doubling the program's statewide cap to $3.2 billion, according to Crain's Detroit, opening room for large-scale projects like Novi City West to apply.
Support and opposition
"This is probably going to be the biggest thing that I encounter here on City Council," Councilman Brian Smith said at the meeting. "It's a generational kind of thing."
Mayor Justin Fischer called the plan exciting and in line with the city's decade-long master plan, telling Bowman he supports pursuing state investment.
Former Mayor Bob Gatt spoke during public comment in favor of the project, saying Bowman's past investments have strengthened Novi's tax base, created jobs, and drawn thousands of visitors who spend money at local businesses.
Not everyone was enthusiastic.
Some residents raised concerns about overdevelopment, housing affordability, and loss of green space. One woman was in tears over the potential loss of nature areas, C&G Newspapers reported. Khurram Abbas, a resident of the nearby Asbury Park subdivision, told WXYZ before the July 27 meeting that neighbors are "pretty concerned about what we consider overdevelopment in Novi."
What happens next
Bowman will take the proposal to the MEDC in hopes of being invited to formally apply for Transformational Brownfield Program funding. The project also needs approvals from the local Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the Michigan Strategic Fund, which can approve no more than five such projects statewide per calendar year.
"If everything goes well, it could be a mid-to-late 2027 start," Bowman said at the meeting.
