Harper Woods council approves NEZ certificates for Fraser Square development

Harper Woods — The City Council on a unanimous roll call vote approved a master Neighborhood Enterprise Zone application and individual NEZ certificates for 71 duplexes and townhomes in the Fraser Square development, proposed for the former Paul Pardt School site. The certificates will be submitted to the Michigan State Tax Commission for a 12‑year NEZ designation, city staff said.

City staff reported that Renovar Robertson Harper Woods LLC submitted the master NEZ application and that the assessor, city clerk, city manager and the city attorney had reviewed the materials. The council was presented with a description of the condominium units and a recommendation to authorize the city clerk to sign the NEZ certificates for units 1 through 71 of Fraser Square Condominium.

Council members discussed whether the council had previously approved the NEZ zone (they had) and clarified that the current vote covered the certificates themselves. Councilmembers then adopted the resolution by roll call.

The NEZ status, if granted by the state, typically offers local tax incentives intended to spur residential development; the council packet included references to Act 59 of the Public Acts of 1978 as amended, which governs condominium and related filings referenced in the property description. City staff stated the recommended period for the NEZ designation is 12 years.

Council members said they expect the Fraser Square development to begin construction soon and that units could be occupied within 18 to 24 months. The council did not at this meeting adopt any additional development agreements beyond the NEZ certificate submissions.

Next steps: the city will forward the NEZ applications to the Michigan State Tax Commission for review and determination.