Redevelopment Of Former Department Store Underway In South Haven

southhavencityhall2-5
southhavencityhall2-5

Work is underway on the partial demolition of a three story building in downtown South Haven that used to be the old Hale’s Department store. South Haven Downtown Development Authority Director Deb Davidson tells WSJM News a private developer is turning three buildings into mixed use commercial and residential space.

“Those buildings have been pretty much sitting vacant, and just this rehabilitation and the redevelopment of all these buildings is going to be a big plus for the economics of our downtown,” Davidson said.

The developer is spending $2.7 million on the project with a goal to be finished in the fall of this year. Davidson says this work comes just as the city gets close to wrapping up the big Center Street reconstruction project. In addition to the infrastructure work happening, the plan is to install a live wall on the corner of Center and Phoenix Street, new landscaping, trees, benches, bike racks, and even public art. Davidson says when it’s finished, that area of Center Street will mirror what’s been done to Phoenix Street. The project should be done in May.