There’s plenty happening in South Haven right now to spur the development of new housing.
Assistant City Manager Michael Landis provided the city council with an update on the latest this week. He said the city is taking a multi-faceted approach to housing development, recognizing there’s no one solution and that incremental developments with a wide range of price points will help meet local needs.
One thing the city is working on is a comprehensive list of available properties, but because not all of them are city-owned, Landis said cooperation is key.
“City staff are collaborating with local property owners and strategically identifying parcels to promote prime opportunities for housing development,” Landis said. “That may mean water and sewer hookups, that may mean proper zoning, that may mean areas that we can offer other incentives to develop.”
The city is also working with South Haven Township, which has more space that could be used for development. Landis said projects in motion right now include Sunset Grove Senior Apartments on M-140, SoHa Drift Lots on 73 1/2 Street, and Lighthouse Ridge apartments on 73rd Street. All those efforts are in different stages of development.
Within the city, Landis said a major project is the Overton property.
“The proposed development is a multifamily apartment complex that will have approximately 53 units and these units will service residents who are 30 to 80% of the area median income.”
That site will also include duplexes. The city is working with the Dwelling Place out of Grand Rapids as it seeks state funding. Other efforts in the city include the Center Street Hales Redevelopment Project.
Landis said the city is also going to start helping lower income residents pay for home repairs using $400,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding. He expects to accept the first applications in the spring.
