Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved the creation of a social district downtown.
The new social district will cover the general area of the Arts District, where there are several restaurants that serve alcohol. With the social district, customers will be able to purchase an alcoholic beverage and then carry it anywhere within the district’s boundaries to visit different attractions.
Commissioners did have some debate about the issue Monday. Commissioner Emma Kinnard warned this could lead to trouble like rowdiness and litter.
“I know that it’s a doorstep away from having a big scene downtown,” Kinnard said. “We’ve had enough problems in Benton Harbor without having people to be able to walk outside with alcohol.”
However, Mayor Marcus Muhammad said creating the social district will help downtown restaurants grow while still coming out of COVID, even if he personally is not a fan of alcohol.
“One thing that I have learned from being in this position is it’s not personal,” Muhammad said. “And I can’t make decisions based upon personally how I view the situation. So, I may go to have dinner at The Livery, but that don’t mean I’m going to order a black Russian.”
The drinks will have to be in specially marked cups, the district will only be to 10 p.m. each night, and there will be trash cans stationed throughout the social district. The social district will be managed by the Arts District and the Benton Harbor Downtown Development Authority, and Cornerstone Alliance has offered to pay for the signage.
Voting against the social district were Commissioners Kinnard, Ethel Clark Griffin, and Juanita Henry.
