Plymouth Township could get new Northville Downs horse racing facility
Harness racing could be coming to Plymouth Township.
Reps from Northville Downs this week submitted a proposal to construct a new procedure in northwest Plymouth Township, just a handful of miles from the recent place at 7 Mile and Sheldon Highway in Northville.
The current Northville Downs web-site was sold in 2018 to Hunter Pasteur Houses. The organization is preparing to establish the land with 450 new residences, industrial house and parks, but for now, Northville Downs is continuing operations, with stay racing scheduled for April by means of September of 2023.
The new undertaking, dubbed Northville Downs at Plymouth Township, is proposed on section of a 128-acre parcel in close proximity to the southwest corner of Five Mile and Ridge roadways. The location is within Michigan Global Technology Corridor (MITC).
In accordance to the submitted ideas, the initial section of the proposed task, if approved by Plymouth Township, would incorporate construction of a 50 %-mile oval harness racetrack, a two-tale, 4,900-square-foot grandstand with a massive patio for standing home race viewing, a 23,000-sq.-foot racing constructing, a 35,000-square-foot horse barn and a 3,200-square-foot upkeep creating.
An predicted long run period of the proposed task, pending legislative acceptance, is the design and operation of a 54,000-square-foot gaming facility with added parking.
The challenge could arrive ahead of the Plymouth Township Arranging Commission as before long as February, but an agenda has not still been set. If the challenge is authorised by the planning commission, it will then go in advance of the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees for thought.
Concerns for Plymouth Township
A representative from Northville Downs did not straight away return a simply call trying to get comment, but Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise claimed the challenge was distinctive and fascinating.
“We’re flattered that Northville Downs would contemplate us as the internet site of their new operation,” Heise explained. “We know horseracing is a large amount various in Michigan than it was 100 years back, and the proposal they are placing forward is for a a lot much more economical operation than what they now have, due to the fact the business design has modified.
“It is a really environmentally dependable web page with as much clean vitality and green technology as attainable, which is a significant leap around what we see proper now in Northville.”
If the plan moves ahead, Heise said, the township will get the job done to negotiate a local community reward agreement, which could incorporate the capability to keep group activities these as the return of the Fourth of July fireworks demonstrate, which was canceled in 2017. Other functions could incorporate leisure situations like soccer, auto reveals, concerts and other equestrian-variety functions.
By point out legislation, Plymouth Township would also be entitled to breakage costs, the change in cents amongst the profitable payouts and the closest dime. For example, in accordance to the 2021 Michigan Gaming Handle Board Horse Racing Report, if a winning guess is computed to pay $3.12, then the bettor gets $3.10. The breakage of $.02 is deposited into a fund distributed and made use of by the cities or townships where the tracks are found.
In 2021, the Metropolis of Northville received $214,203 in breakage service fees from Northville Downs, in accordance to the report.
If the proposal is authorized, the new facility will be a different MITC addition to the 5 Mile corridor between Plymouth Township and Northville. Concerns have been raised about road conditions in the region, and Heise said MITC is actively lobbying the Point out of Michigan for funding to rebuild and widen Five Mile Road concerning Napier and Beck streets. The task is anticipated to expense an estimated $25 million or far more.
The existing Northville Downs facility gets around 200 vehicles everyday, about 450 automobiles on Friday and Saturday, and upwards of 800 through special situations this kind of as Kentucky Derby Working day, the proposal says.
Founded in 1944, Northville Downs is the oldest and only remaining nighttime harness racing monitor in Michigan. The original period of operation for the new facility will include daylight only racing. In addition to seasonal are living harness racing, Northville Downs also features 12 months-round simulcast wagering and is the host for unique situations these types of as the Northville Spring and Summer months carnivals.
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Call reporter Laura Colvin at [email protected] or 248-221-8143.
