Massive $270M development planned next to Novi convention center

**Airforceguy** · May-27-25, 08:47 AM

Massive $270M development planned next to Novi convention center

The owner of the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi is rolling out an ambitious proposal for a mixed-use development anchored by a 225-room hotel, more than 400 housing units, a grocery store and a restaurant.

Blair Bowman, who has steadily expanded the conference center off of I-96 since buying it more than 30 years ago, said the roughly $270 million project would revitalize the Grand River Avenue corridor — but it hinges on public funding. The development, dubbed Novi City West, is plotted for about 50 acres of land west of the 600,000-square-foot convention center on both sides of Grand River that Bowman has been acquiring since the late 1990s. A 126-room Hyatt Place hotel was added to the east side of the complex a few years ago, but Bowman said a new hotel is needed to lure and retain large events.

Project officials are seeking Transformational Brownfield Program incentives from the state to support the vision, which Bowman intends to pitch to lawmakers this week at the Mackinac Policy Conference. The vision is to create a “walkable, integrated urban district” that will serve as a community asset and driver of economic activity.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...0m-development

**401don** · May-27-25, 10:01 AM

Remember when a brownfield actually was one?

**Danny** · May-27-25, 11:33 AM

It's going to happen.

**Hypestyles** · June-05-25, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by Danny

It's going to happen.

with public money, yet. All too bad. Hope it's worth it, Novi.
I don't see where' Novi's struggling for anything.

**Danny** · June-08-25, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

with public money, yet. All too bad. Hope it's worth it, Novi.
I don't see where' Novi's struggling for anything.

Novi DDA is struggling to re-build their downtown. Today its look like psuedotown with Wal-Marts and shopping malls.

**shovelhead** · June-15-25, 08:52 AM

Novi has made mistakes in the past in agreements with developers, not saying this is the case with Blair Bowman who has a good track record from what I know of him and his projects. I lived there during the Sandstone Development years and subsequent debacle.

Novi really stepped into that one, it’s a pretty interesting read. Condensed version, developer came in envisioning a new neo-traditional small town to be constructed in the Thirteen Mile and Novi Road area. Just after a planned hotel/marina complex plan collapsed at the site of the old Walled Lake Amusement Park. The city had to pay a cash settlement to the buyer/developer of that failed project, IIRC 50k and the city got the property back. And for several years despite the area residents saying otherwise tried to get others interested in building a hotel then condos and a marina there, finally giving up and making it parkland.

Anyhow, there were several factors negatively affecting Sandstone,the economy being one. Another was as part of the agreement the developer built a connector highway between Novi Road at Twelve and a Half Mile Road to connect with Decker Road at Thirteen Mile Road, that being the new Novi Road.

Developer did their part, Novi for various reasons was unable to complete their reconstruction of Novi Road between the new road and Twelve Mile Road. Developer had no direct access to their land, developer went bankrupt. Developer sued Novi. First court case, Novi Lost. They appealed, went back to court and Novi lost again, 64 million again IIRC. Now the fun started. City’s insurance carrier would not cover the loss. City was faced with a Special Assessment District citywide to pay the settlement. City Council and Mayor were voted out. New Mayor brokered a deal to turn over land we the taxpayers bought about ten or so years before intended for parks in lieu of cash settlement hence today’s development along Twelve Mile between the railroad to Dixon Road. So, the taxpayers still got to pay for the city’s mistakes.

There are some details I’ve skipped, you get the gist of the idea. Not saying this is the case this time but Novi does like playing with the taxpayers money.