Benton Harbor City Manager Alex Little is encouraged to see several housing initiatives taking place around the community in recent years.
Little tells us several partners have come together in Benton Harbor as they see the potential of the city. He says Benton Harbor needs more housing.
“Not only complexes but individual homes,” Little said. “We’ve been accumulating some of the property specifically for the purpose of putting together an RFP and going out to interested people in building housing in the city, both developers and residents. We’re wide open to new residents to move into the area.”
Little says organizations like Cornerstone Alliance and Harbor Shores have been leading the way.
“Harbor Shores has done some amazing development for us with the Emma Jean Hull Flats center and I think they have some plans to do some additional things and we’re working with everybody that we can.”
The Emma Jean Hull Flats opened in 2023 with 80 units. There’s also Project T, a development spearheaded by Harbor Habitat for Humanity and Renovare out of Detroit. They’re seeking to construct duplexes and apartments, along with commercial space, at the site of the former Mercy Hospital. Project organizers have predicted breaking ground this summer.
Little says with all of these developments taking place, “it’s looking great” in Benton Harbor.
