Townhomes to be Built on Long-Vacant School Site in Downtown Farmington

Farmington – The long-vacant Maxfield Training Center in downtown Farmington is being demolished to make way for an exciting new housing project. The area, located on Thomas Street just north of Grand River Avenue, will soon be home to 53 townhomes available for sale in the mid-$300,000 range.

This development, named Hillside Townes, is a $16 million project by Robertson Brothers Homes. It consists of seven three-story buildings and is expected to significantly revitalize the area. Construction is set to begin later this year, with the first units expected to be completed next year.

This marks the first major downtown residential development in Farmington in decades and aims to provide much-needed housing in a walkable neighborhood. City officials are optimistic about the benefits this project will bring.

Mayor Joe LaRussa stated, “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.”

The project focuses on addressing the “missing middle” housing gap. This term refers to housing options that lie between single-family homes and mid-rise apartment buildings, including duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and more affordable housing types.

Notably, the project also includes the reconstruction of Thomas Street with upgrades to water and utility infrastructure, as well as improvements for walkability and ADA compliance. Federal funds will be used to add an ADA-compliant connection to nearby Shiawassee Park. Additionally, a new ribbon park, or pedestrian promenade, will connect the new homes to Grand River Avenue and Riley Park. The city plans to demolish two houses on Grand River later this year to facilitate this new connection.

The Maxfield Training Center site has a long history, housing school buildings since at least 1880. The site was sold to the city by Farmington Public Schools several years ago, but previous redevelopment plans fell through before Hillside Townes was approved.