More than 500 homes, apartments, senior living units proposed in Howell Township
Jennifer Eberbach
HOWELL TWP. — A group of real estate developers is pursuing a plan that could bring more than 500 new housing units to the township.
Pending final approvals, the development will feature a mixture of housing types, including market rate single-family homes, apartments and senior independent living units on about 95 acres near the northwest corner of Mason and Burkhart roads.
Bruce Michael, a partner of Rochester Hills-based investment group Mason and Burkhart LLC that is developing the site, said the project will appeal to different demographics.
He said the plan is to construct 553 residences in phases over the course of several years. The single-family home portion of the development will target middle-aged and older adults, but won't be age restricted.
"The vision is on the northern portion of the property, 175 single-family lots intended to be for active adult purchasers, primarily small lots," Michael said.
He said single-family homes will be smaller and predominately "ranch-style" for people from the baby boomer generation who may start to worry about going up and down stairs as they age.
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He said he expects single-family homes will be between 1,400 to 2,200 square feet.
"Homebuilders, in general, don't focus on that market, but the baby boomer generation is (nearly) 77 million people. It's a big slug of folks, and generally they are being ignored. They need homes that fit their lifestyle and need," he explained.
He said home buyers will have options to add features and additions, including wood flooring, specialized kitchens, and additions such as an enclosed porch or sunroom.
He said 288 multi-family units will include a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in a different styles, including ranches and townhomes.
"With multi-family, we'll have a wide variety of products to satisfy more of the market," Michael said.
He said the plan is for 112 three-bedroom, two-story townhomes with attached garages, 81 two-bedroom, two-story townhomes, 55 three-bedroom ranch-style apartments, and 40 one-bedroom apartments.
Plans also include a 90-unit senior living complex.
"It will be for independent senior living for the early elderly, people who don't need assisted living," Michael said.
In addition to housing units, the development will feature a clubhouse, pool, play courts, park areas and a fenced dog park.
What's the projected timeline for construction?
Michael said the project would be built in phases over the course of at least seven or eight years.
Howell Township officials approved preliminary site plans and the rezoning of vacant agricultural land for the development earlier this year.
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The project needs final site plan approvals and construction permits, which Michael said the group hopes to have by fall.
"We might start land development by the end of the year, and building would be in 2023," he said.
He said the first phase likely will entail constructing some single-family homes.
"We would break down (construction of) the multi-family units into phases and probably start a multi-family phase right after a single-family phase," he said.
He said he and his partners purchased the land from the township, which the township acquired after a previous development plan from the 2000s fell through.
"Livingston County had been, up until recently, the fastest-growing county in Michigan. It was what I would call the fringe of metro Detroit, and now it's become more mainline to suburban Detroit. With changes since the pandemic, a lot of people work at home and don't have to worry about commuting."
"People can live outside of a nice small town like Howell," he said. "Howell has a good school system."
Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.