Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud (right) explains the proposed Regent Court Condominium development agreement during a special Oct. 29 City Council meeting.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – The City Council approved the Regent Court condominium development on Executive Plaza Drive, southeast of Ford Road and the Southfield Freeway, on Oct. 29 during a special council meeting.
Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said the developer must begin work on the residential portion of the mixed-use development within five years, with a $1 million penalty if residential units are not part of the parcel development.
As part of the agreement, the developer will sell three parcels
on Lundy Parkway, 15700, 15750 and 15800, about 20 acres of land, northwest of Ford and Greenfield roads, to the city for future residential development.
The city will pay $2.832 million for the Lundy Parkway properties, which are subject to a first right of refusal by Ford Motor Land Development.
The city acquired the Lundy Parkway land to increase the availability of housing options within the city.
“What the city decided to do is we know we have a housing shortage, and from my perspective, one developer who owns more than 150 acres is not something I’m very fond of,” Hammoud said. “I prefer to have more developers who aren’t taking over large swaths of the city, and I rather prefer that the city drive the vision for what we would like in our neighborhoods, rather than the developers driving based on what works for the bottom line.”
The Regent Court Condominium project, on 56.8 acres, will consist of seven units, with room for expansion for more units.
The property, which is currently zoned “general business district,” will be used for mixed-used commercial, governmental and residential uses.
The developer will establish new easements for a public water main and for sanitary sewers. Hammoud said the developer’s infrastructure costs will be about $3 million just to install the water and sanitation lines.
The project’s internal roads will be private. The site will also include a storm water detention basin.
Dearborn City Councilmembers Ken Paris (left), Leslie Herrick, Michael Sareini, Kamal Alsawafy, Robert Abraham and Gary Enos listen to information about the proposed Regent Court Condominium development agreement during a special Oct. 29 council meeting.