A Tale of Two Cities: Brownfield Transformations

CM credit hours for mobile workshops are awarded based on the planned dedicated instructional time. Adjustments to CM hours will not be made after the live event.

This tour highlights transformative redevelopment projects in Novi and Northville. Sakura Novi, a mixed-use "Asian Village," is adjacent to the town center. Guided by the 2016 Master Plan, city staff and developers collaborated to rezone and revitalize a brownfield site - investing $850,000 in asbestos removal, soil cleanup, and other due care activities. It features a wetland overlook and a pond inspired by Japanese gardens, with a curated mix of Asian retail and dining. Learn about the city's role as property seller and use of the planned rezoning overlay to formalize development agreements. The tour also passes Novi's Main Street area - a new urbanist concept 30 years in the making.

In Northville, explore The Downs, a 44.5-acre redevelopment of a former harness racetrack. This planned unit development includes more than 450 new homes, retail space, two public parks, and daylighting a quarter-mile of the Middle Rouge River. After removing contaminated soils, a restored river channel anchors River Park - a 10-acre greenway with native plantings, trails, and the restored Mary Gilbert Log Cabin.

The Sakura Novi plan and leasing strategy celebrate the cultures of Novi's Asian communities with a unique collection of Japanese, Korean and Filipino offerings.