Partners To Build 600 Multifamily Units

DETROIT-Two companies have several multifamily housing developments going up in the Downriver area south of Detroit. The development team of Hometowne Building Co. of Farmington Hills and Hughes Properties of Bingham Farms are building three condominium projects in the cities of Woodhaven and Melvindale.

These areas are already mostly built-out. The Downriver area is known for its industrial plants, and surrounding homes for workers. The condominium projects would be the first new homes in the area, says Patrick O’Leary, president of Hometowne.

“The areas are very populated already, we’re building what we would consider major in-fill properties,” O’Leary tells GlobeSt.com. “There’s not been a lot of new housing for quite a while. We think there’s a pent-up demand for those who want a new home.”

The first project is Parklane Townhomes in Woodhaven. The companies recently began building Parklane, a $30-million development with 198 units on just more than 16 acres. The units would average about $150,000 for about 1,300-sf of space.

In the spring, the two companies will build Northpointe Townhomes on 22 acres in Melvindale, near Greenfield and Allen roads. The project is being developed for $33 million, with 264 units, starting at about $120,000 each.

The other project is a ranch and duplex product of about 130 to 140 units in Woodhaven, O’Leary says. This plan would go in on an 18-acre piece of property at Van Born and Hall Roads.

“We’re hoping to start that project in the spring as well,” he says, noting that the city has not been given plans yet. “We’re still working on product concepts.”

The areas are part of a trend to build new housing, apartments and luxury condominiums in the Downriver area, as part of the exodus of business to the western portion of the Detroit Metropolitan Area. New retail is starting to follow this trend.

“We think the areas have very strong job centers, and will be very good projects,” O’Leary says.