Engineering firm Abonmarche is planning a new apartment development in downtown Benton Harbor.
The city Legislative Committee this week considered a brownfield plan for the site, which is at 89, 95, and 101 West Main Street. That’s property owned and occupied by Abonmarche. The company’s John Sniadecki told the committee it’s planning to develop eight apartments on the second floor.
“The commercial [space] will be downstairs, which is about 8,600 square foot,” Sniadecki said. “We’ve been there for the last 46 years. We want to stay in the community and help continue to revive the central part of Benton Harbor.”
Sniadecki said Abonmarche will still occupy the first floor and basement of the properties as it makes a more than $4 million investment to create the new housing on the upper floor.
City Manager Alex Little said as new housing is sought in Benton Harbor, this project is “the complete package.”
“From an economic development standpoint, we support it entirely,” Little said.
Abonmarche is seeking to capture some brownfield dollars to help recoup some of the development cost in the coming years. Recent changes to state law have allowed for housing developments to start capturing brownfield funds, already leading to multiple new developments in Berrien County.
No start date for construction of this project was given at this week’s meeting.
