Plymouth Township, County Reach Deal on DeCoHo Land

PLYMOUTH, MI — A long simmering dispute over Plymouth Township’s purchase of 323 acres of the old Detroit House of Corrections prison farm five years ago has been resolved in negotiations with Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree.

After the township purchased the land at the site, known as DeCoHo, a judge ruled that Wayne County had improperly foreclosed on it, The Plymouth Observer reported.

That meant Detroit retained 190 acres of the land, and the new agreement means Plymouth Township will get to keep the approximately $606,000 it paid to acquire the 323-acre tract when the township’s remaining 133 acres are sold.

The reimbursement deal also covers the township’s attorney fees, as well as money spent on demolition and infrastructure improvements, and protects the county from future legal claims on the 323 acres.

Township Supervisor Shannon Price estimates the 133-acre tract of land is worth $3 million and $5 million, which would mean a net gain of $1.5 million to $2.5 million for the county. Price wants the township to retain part of the land located along Johnson Creek for a possible public park.

“We're going to end up walking away from this thing with money in our pocket and a park,” Price said. “This is a good thing for us all the way around.”

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