Benton Harbor redevelopment plans envision new riverfront

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Residents got a first look Thursday at preliminary plans aimed at revitalizing Benton Harbor, including proposed improvements to the city’s riverfront, downtown and canal district.

The redevelopment effort is a collaboration between the city of Benton Harbor, Cornerstone Alliance, the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission and the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture. The groups are using a $22 million BUILD grant to develop community-focused improvements.

For some residents, the plans represent one of the city’s largest redevelopment efforts in years.

“It’s been quite a while,” resident Bryan Joseph said. “The last major project was the reconstruction of Main Street.”

Preliminary proposals for downtown include a new city hall and a more walkable city center. Plans for the canal district call for a new park and fishing docks.

But the riverfront is a major focus of the redevelopment effort.

“I think that could be ground zero for the community,” Joseph said.

First drafts call for a riverfront boardwalk with a skating rink, drawing inspiration from Howard Park in South Bend.

Residents who participated in the planning process said they were encouraged by the opportunity to have their voices included.

“They brought the right type of energy,” resident Samantha Leonfils said. “I’m thoroughly excited about this project.”

Still, some city leaders say redevelopment should address basic needs in Benton Harbor alongside recreational and community spaces.

Ethel Clark-Griffin, the city’s 4th Ward commissioner, said access to a grocery store should be a priority.

“I would like to see a grocery store,” Clark-Griffin said. “A lot of people travel maybe to South Bend, Mishawaka, Kalamazoo as far as Detroit just to get the necessities that they want to see, so I’d like to see more brought here that will meet the needs of everyone.”