Benton Harbor City Commissioners are stepping up the pressure on HUD to do repairs at Harbor Towers, the high-rise apartment complex downtown. During a meeting this week, they heard from city residents seeking improvements. Problems at Harbor Towers include water leaks, mold, trash chutes that are nailed shut, and bad odors. Benton Harbor City Manager Ellis Mitchell said Tuesday he’s been working on it.
“We had a meeting today with HUD and with the commission and with the staff,” Mitchell said. “So, we’re not just sitting and waiting. We’re working on it also, and we have been already, as a matter of fact.”
Harbor Towers is managed by the Benton Harbor Housing Commission, but it is HUD housing. Major problems were reported there last winter when a Christmas blizzard resulted in a power outages and flooding. At the time, commissioners spoke about the need for improvements. Mayor Marcus Muhammad has said the building’s residents should be put up in hotels while repairs are done. Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis said Tuesday Harbor Towers is on the agenda for the next Public Safety Committee meeting.
