After 12 years, Farmington is razing former downtown high school and training center to start ‘transformational’ new housing development 

Demolition will make way for construction of Hillside Townes, a $16 million, 53-unit townhome community that helps fill metro Detroit buyers’ demand for ‘missing middle’ housing and walkable neighborhoods with prices in the mid-$300,000 range

The former Maxfield Training Center site was the location of a press conference on Aug. 19, 2024 to celebrate the Hillside Townes development project. 

Farmington Mayor Joe LaRussa welcomed several esteemed guests to the active demolition site. Together they welcomed Robertson Brothers Homes new development Hillside Towns and watched the demolition. Honorary speakers included:

• Michigan Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe
• Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Communications Manager and Farmington resident Hugh McDiarmid Jr. 
• Homebuilders Association of Michigan (HBAM) Executive Vice President of Government Relations Dawn Crandall, and
• Robertson Brothers Homes President Darian Neubecker

After being vacant for approximately 12 years, the former Maxfield Training Center in the heart of downtown Farmington is being demolished to build a new housing development – the first significant residential project in Farmington’s core downtown in decades.

The approximately 3-acre parcel of land had been home to a school since at least 1880 and was previously owned by Farmington Public Schools, operating as a high school and then a junior high school before becoming the Maxfield Training Center.

It now will become Hillside Townes, a new $16 million community consisting of seven three-story buildings with 53 townhomes that are anticipated to list in the mid-$300,000 range. Construction by residential developer Robertson Brothers Homes is set to begin later this year with a grand opening of the first units anticipated in 2025. 

The development is widely hailed by Farmington Mayor Joe LaRussa and local leaders as “transformational” to the city’s future. 

“This empty vacant structure will be replaced with new, vibrant housing that will benefit Farmington residents for generations to come and allow more people to enjoy our energetic and engaging downtown,” Mayor LaRussa said during a news conference this morning at the Thomas Street site where the building is being demolished.

The mayor was joined at the press event by Michigan’s Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe, Robertson Bros. Homes President Darian Neubecker, representatives of the Michigan Dept. on Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and Homebuilders Association of Michigan (HBAM), as well as dozens of onlookers. 

Chief Growth Officer Doe leads Michigan’s Growth Office, which is tasked with implementing the state’s blueprint for growth, a comprehensive strategy put forth by the Growing Michigan Together Council to retain and attract talent. One of the pillars of the Council’s blueprint includes creating thriving, resilient communities that are magnets for young talent. Developing and revitalizing housing stock to meet Michigan’s demands will help reach this goal and grow the population.

“Our public engagement work from last year identified housing as the most important issue facing Michigan communities,” Doe said. 

“That makes sense, as housing is foundational to every single other issue we face as a state. We know that stable housing causes better outcomes with people's jobs, their education, and even their health,” she said. 

“People want great places to live and that means being able to offer affordable housing across all income levels if we want to grow our population,” Doe said.

The official launch of the Farmington development exemplifies the call to action by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Doe and HBAM for communities and builders to collaboratively tackle the statewide housing shortage and promote more housing opportunities for people of all income levels, including the “missing middle.”

Missing middle housing is a term used to describe housing types that fall between single-family homes and mid-rise apartment buildings. It can include duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, bungalows, cluster homes, and cottage courts. Missing middle housing is often more affordable than single-family homes and can help increase residential density and create more walkable neighborhoods.

In Farmington, Hillside Townes proponents say the development will create needed housing near downtown and positively impact the city's small business community. In addition to providing new housing, the project includes the reconstruction of Thomas Street, with water and utility infrastructure upgrades, as well as walkability and Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements. The city’s plan also incorporates a federally funded community project to add an ADA-compliant connection to Shiawassee Park.

Among the project highlights in the city’s plan is a ribbon park, also known as a pedestrian promenade, that will connect the site to Grand River Avenue and the adjacent Riley Park. The development is supported by a $1 million EGLE Brownfield Redevelopment Grant that is funding site assessments, transportation and disposal of contaminated soil, and demolition work.

“Our Robertson Brothers team is going to make Hillside Townes one of the best places to call home in Metro Detroit,” said Neubecker, who noted more Michiganders are working in construction today than at any point in the last 16 years including pipefitters, carpenters, bricklayers, and roofers.

Thanks to state investments, federal resources, and strong private development, Michigan has built or rehabilitated 50,000 housing units, significantly reducing the statewide shortage from 190,000 units to 141,000 units.

 

Current trends indicate Michigan can expect about 20,000 additional housing units per calendar year between now and the end of 2026.

Gov. Whitmer announced earlier this year that the State of Michigan is making the largest investment in Michigan history – almost $1.4 billion – to build or rehabilitate nearly 115,000 affordable homes over the next several years. More Michiganders are working in construction today than at any point in the last 16 years, including pipefitters, carpenters, bricklayers, and roofers.