M. Alan Scott
HOWELL — Motorsports Gateway Howell, a 273-acre behemoth in Livingston County, is nearing completion of its first phase.
The mixed-use automotive district development is located on the north side of I-96 between Michigan Avenue and Lucy Road, and sits about five minutes from downtown Howell. It will feature an automotive country club with fee-paying members and a trackside garage condo community of 68 planned units. The track adjacent to the community is known as the South Circuit. Paving begins on the track later this month.
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The project’s second phase will add an automotive innovation park, where equipment manufacturers, suppliers and vendors will rent space. That phase is slated for completion midway through 2026.
The third phase will include a public entertainment zone, expected to offer dining, retail and entertainment to residents and visitors. Ground hasn’t yet broken on this phase, but developers hope parts of the zone will be open to consumers by 2027.
Garage condo pricing starts around $515,000. Non-residential memberships cost roughly $7,500 per year, with more than $40,000 due upfront as part of a one-time initial fee.
Jordan Dick, a former racecar driver turned entrepreneur, is spearheading the project with his father, Mark. The current focus is completion of phase one, according to Head of Communications Eli Bayless, slated for next spring.
According to Bayless, “many” of the 68 condo units have already been reserved. Motorsports and car enthusiasts don’t need to own a condo to be a member.
“The idea was to bring a true motorsports experience,” Bayless said.
Members have exclusive access to the South Circuit, which is 1.75 miles long and 40 feet wide. With rolling typography and significant banking, the track mirrors others at Atlanta Speedway and Road America in Wisconsin.
Developers hope members will have at least 120 days to use the track each year, but the number could be higher, weather permitting. All trackside garaged condos are 1,200 square feet with balconies and patios. They’re located inside a private, gated community.
This first phase incorporates about 45% of the project, Bayless said. Condo owners are expected to move in next spring, and the South Circuit is expected to be available to members before next summer.
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A second track, the North Circuit, is planned in conjunction with phase two of the project. Eventually, both tracks will connect.
“We feel there’ll be no better way to experience your own racetrack than by driving it or watching (other racers) from your balcony,” Bayless said.
— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.
