Benton Harbor / St. Joseph -
I came across
this impressive planning study document while searching around last night. The document was commissioned a few years ago now (2015) but the potential of what it contains is beginning to pick up steam in the area. There is a design charrette scheduled this month to review the plan and generate more discussion within the community.
Coastal cities like Benton Harbor and Muskegon are getting more serious about capitalizing on what is one of their best assets; the waterfront.
Like most planning tools, this is visionary, to be sure, but vision is a good thing when backed by funding and action, and I think the time is ripe for some of this to start coming to fruition. There is a lot of fight left in Benton Harbor, which has faced a lot of challenges. Many local activists and developers are dreaming big for the future of the Benton Harbor / St. Joseph Twin Cities Harbor area. The study is focused on the immediate harbor area - Marina Island and adjacent St. Joseph river shore line. There is a lot in this study to take in. It explores current land use and possible urban productivity, commercial shipping / port consolidation, recreational planning concepts, residential markets, walkability, environment and sustainability, zoning, funding strategies, etc.
The study was commissioned by the City of Benton Harbor, and was prepared in collaboration between the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, local developers, Gibbs Planning Group, the 2015 Andrews University School of Architecture & Interior Design, and numerous other stakeholders.
There is too much imagery and information to post here, so go look at the
study document if you want to read more.
