SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Southfield sings with the sound of construction near the intersection of M-10 and Greenfield Road, as the city works to redevelop what was once Northland Shopping Center into a mixed-use complex with residential, retail and office spaces.
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The five-year project is a partnership between the city of Southfield and Contour Companies, which bought the property for $11.1 million dollars in 2020. With 100 acres of property, the endeavor is the biggest inter-ring development project in metro Detroit, according to Southfield Mayor Ken Siver.
Once the first phase of the project is completed, 1500 apartment units will be ready for residents to move into. Live-work spaces are also in the plans, as well as the construction of Hudson City Market, a revival of the J.L. Hudson Co. store. Siver believes that the mix of retail and residential will make Northland a “city within a city.”
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As Southfield grows, there is an increasing demand for affordable housing. In the last census, the city of Southfield gained about 5,000 residents, and Siver wants to ensure that the population grows even further in the next decade.
“We’re encouraging more young families to come to Southfield,” Siver said. “The project... may be a start for young folks.”
The redevelopment at Northfield is indicative of a larger, national movement to revive high-vacancy commercial buildings into affordable housing and other real estate. This October, the White House announced actions to support this revival through “financing, technical assistance, and the sale of federal properties.”
Multi-use redevelopment projects have been completed across the country, where mall storefronts were transformed into apartments. Not only are the projects useful for creating affordable housing, they also prevent urban sprawl and promote sustainability by making use of buildings that already exist.
These redevelopments are attractive due to the changing nature of retail, as more shoppers spend their money online instead of in brick-and-mortar stores. Northland Shopping Center was the victim of this trend and closed its doors in early 2015. As America’s first modern shopping center, the mall was once an important landmark for Southfield.
“It’s going to be a destination place again,” Siver said. “It was for all of metro Detroit when it opened in 1954 and its coming back.”
The project is expected to create 500 new jobs and be an employment center for the community. A Costco is also being constructed near the site. The city hopes that the density and walkability of the space will allow for future developments. In fact, Southfield is already in partnership with five other cities -- Ferndale, Oak Park, Hazel Park, Farmington, and Farmington Hills -- to revitalize the Nine Mile Corridor and reduce car traffic. They hope to create “a vibrant streetscape” that encourages business growth and improves walkability.
Despite the exciting momentum, Siver does cite some problems with road construction costs.
“Primarily the state of Michigan has a long history of disinvesting in infrastructure and the state shared revenue for roads is down because fuel-efficient cars, electric cars, people are driving less,” Siver said.
The city tries to cover its costs through grant money and anticipates that the site will bring investments and revenue. Siver is grateful for the team working on the project.
“I’m particularly proud of the team we have between the administration,” Siver said. “I have an excellent rapport with city council. We function well together. Don’t always agree but that’s normal, yet, we get a lot done. I’m very proud of that.”
Siver hopes these projects will attract new residents to Southfield while incentivizing old ones to stay.
“You’re always welcome,” Siver said. “We welcome everybody.”
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