City Moves Forward With Purchase of Two Properties Along Adams Road

Rochester Hills leaders are negotiating with the owners of two 5-acre lots on Adams Road to purchase the properties for city green space.

The properties at 950 and 884 N. Adams Road, south of Tienken Road, are next to the undeveloped Nowicki Park. By buying the land, the city would prevent any private commercial or residential development from happening there. 

The city's Green Space Advisory Board, a citizen committee charged with helping the city preserve natural green spaces, wildlife habitats and scenic views in the city, walked the properties in August and September and declared them an attractive buffer to Nowicki Park with high-quality wetlands. 

Because of how close they are to Adams High School and the Village of Rochester Hills, the advisory board said the properties were at risk of development if not eventually owned by the city.

Both properties have residential homes on them; the owners are willing to sell, advisory board representatives said in their recent presentation to Rochester Hills City Councilmembers.

The city will now enter negotiations with the property owners.