PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Mich. – More controversy surrounds Northville Downs and its plans to relocate to Plymouth Township.
The family-run horse racing operation filed a federal lawsuit against Plymouth Township this week.
The company accuses the municipality of extortion and other illegal activity over its relocation plans.
Some people thought it would be an opportunity for Plymouth Township to help save a rare and dying business when neighbors learned last year that Northville Downs was closing its horse racing operation and relocating to a site off 5 Mile and Ridge roads.
“I’m very disappointed now,” said Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise on Wednesday, as word about the lawsuit began spreading.” We’ve complied with the law. We’ve bargained in good faith with Northville Downs for over a year. And we were very clear with them, from the start, what we were looking for.”
Court documents suggest the problem centers around Plymouth Township’s attempts to get Northville Downs to make specific promises under a Community Benefits Agreement.
They are perks for the Township, which the racetrack’s attorney, Mike Cox, described in the lawsuit as illegal and extortion.
“The bottom line is they’re being extorted,” Cox said. “It’s by a municipal mafia. Not the old-time mafia.”
The lawsuit claims Plymouth Township wants Northville Downs to pay an additional $5 million over the millions it’s already invested in purchasing the land.
Court documents allege Plymouth Township wants Northville Downs to spend at least $100,000 per year on a Fourth of July drone show, maintain youth soccer fields at $250,000 per year, pickleball courts at $100,000 per year, and build a $400,000 nature walking trail that would cost $50,000 to maintain annually, all for the racetrack to use its own property.
Cox said, “Of course, they don’t charge that to Meijer. They don’t charge that to L.A. Fitness. They just thought they could take advantage of Northville Downs because they know Northville Downs has to move.”
Back in Plymouth Township, Heise claims Northville Downs is operating in bad faith. He said Township leaders made several offers, which the business rejected.
“It’s certainly not extortion,” Heise added. “I certainly have no regrets that we went to bat for our people and tried to get the best deal possible for Plymouth Township.”
Attorney Cox said Northville Downs is losing millions on top of the money it has already invested in the property.
Plymouth Township leaders have yet to be served with an official copy of the lawsuit. However, representatives on both sides said they are prepared to battle out the issue in court.