Rochester Hills moves to buy 9.3 acres on S. Rochester Road and accepts adjacent homeowners association gift to expand green space

The Rochester Hills City Council on Dec. 2 approved two actions to add land to the city’s public holdings: a purchase agreement for 9.3 acres at 694 South Rochester Road and acceptance of a quitclaim deed from the Pheasant Ring Homeowners Association for a small parcel bordering the Clinton River near Innovation Hills.

The council authorized the city to buy the 9.3‑acre parcel owned by Claire and Robert Levy for $2,753,000, and to execute related closing documents. Owner Claire Levy told the council she and her husband had received other offers but chose to work with the city to preserve the land; she said the site has deep personal significance and described it as a way to “pay it forward” to the community.

Separately, the council accepted a quitclaim deed for a parcel (parcel number 70‑15‑20‑302‑021) granted by the Pheasant Ring Homeowners Association; council authorization included payment of routine closing costs. Ken Elwert, who led city efforts on the donation, told council the parcel sits beside the Clinton River near Innovation Hills and that the homeowners association preferred the city manage the land rather than continue HOA maintenance responsibilities.

Votes and motions

• Purchase of 694 S. Rochester Road: motion to approve purchase agreement moved by Councilmember Christine Mangioli, seconded by Councilmember Missy Neubauer. Council voted unanimously in favor (7–0).

• Acceptance of quickclaim deed from Pheasant Ring Homeowners Association: motion moved by Councilmember Christine Mangioli, seconded by Councilmember Missy Neubauer. Council voted unanimously in favor (7–0).

Discussion and context

Council members said the acquisitions align with long-standing city priorities to preserve green space and support public access along the Clinton River. Councilmember Mangioli noted the city had budgeted for the purchase and described the action as a use of previously set aside capital funds.

The Levy family emphasized local roots and that they turned down a higher commercial offer to allow the city to preserve the land. Claire Levy said she planned to contact a neighbor who decades earlier encouraged preservation of the property and thanked city staff and council members for completing the transaction.

Next steps

City staff were authorized to complete purchase-closing steps and record the deed; the clerk was directed to file the quitclaim deed for the Pheasant Ring parcel with the Oakland County Register of Deeds. The city will manage both parcels as public property in accordance with existing park and open-space rules.

Ending

Council members described the votes as a culmination of years of planning and outreach: “This property will always be the beekeeper property,” one council member said, referring to local history and the site’s neighborhood identity.