Benton Harbor City Commissioners have heard a report on the Benton Harbor Housing Commission’s plans for capital improvements in the next five years.
At a Monday meeting, the housing commission’s Dashuna Robinson presented an overview of priorities through 2027. She said planned improvements at developments throughout the city include operations and security at Harbor Towers, management at Harbor Towers and the Buss Avenue development, general operations, resident programs, and boiler replacements.
City commissioners were most interested in Harbor Towers. Robinson said they have big plans there.
“Some of the upgrades that we wanted to do for Harbor Towers were replacing of heating boilers, security cameras, the hot water heaters, fire and safety systems, corridor lighting, things of that nature,” Robinson said. “These are all examples of things that we plan to do over the next five-year term.”
Mayor Pro Tem Duane Seats said he’s concerned about a broken elevator at Harbor Towers. He also asked about security.
“People are out there 24 hours a day, seven days a week who don’t live there,” Seats said. “Something has to happen in order for you guys to change that perception of what is happening there.”
Robinson said the Benton Harbor Housing Commission has been in talks with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority on financing for improvements at Harbor Towers with a goal to get started as soon as possible. She added the commission is seeking to align plans there with HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration tool, which can get residents better rates.
As for whether Harbor Towers residents can be housed elsewhere while renovations are taking place, she said that will depend on an asset analysis and what work is being done.
