Novi City Council Makes Way for Main Street Developments

The Novi City Council approved a final site plan for a part of the Main Street area that will break up the 20 acres of land into three separately owned parcels.

The city hopes that the simplified site plan for the area east of Novi Road and south of Grand River Avenue will make it easier for each of the owners to develop their parcels.

"We concur with the property owners that the best way to move forward is to unwind the original condominium and let each of the properties develop on their own and yet have some commonalities," said City Manager Clay Pearson.

Previously, the part of Main Street consisting of the Atrium Building and undeveloped land west and south of the building were part of two condominiums — meaning property that is individually owned, but with the common facilities such as hallways and external areas controlled by the group of owners that jointly own the entire piece of property.

So instead of the three properties being owned under the umbrella of two condominiums, the owners will now be separated.

The Atrium Building parcel, which contains several restaurants and stores, has been owned by Main Street Partnership, LLC since 2006. The land west of the building Victor Cassis in 2010. The land south of Main Street has been owned by TCF Bank since 2009, when a development fell through.

Overcoming hardship

City staff members have been meeting with the three property owners and other stakeholders in the Main Street area to discuss the matter since late 2011, and council had a special meeting to discuss the matter Monday. 

Cassis, one of the parcel owners, spoke to the council at the meeting, citing how it he has witnessed the struggle to develop Main Street for years.

"I believe in this community, and you know I have always really put my stakes here and bet on Novi," he said. "I bet on it a year and half ago when I invested in this property. My belief is that we're going to see sunshine. We're going to see development coming in, and all will benefit."

Novi Mayor Bob Gatt said developing Main Street has been a long journey that started probably 20 years ago. The area was originally approved for development in 1997 under single ownership.

"There is light at the end of this tunnel and today is a magnificent day for the citizens of Novi and for the business owners of Novi and for all the residents of Novi," Gatt said. "Main Street is going to make it. It's going to take off."