A new 200-unit apartment complex proposed for 3822 Red Arrow Highway in Lincoln Township is moving ahead quickly as the Lincoln Township Board of Trustees has voted to approve a rezoning request to make the development possible, one day after the township planning commission made that recommendation.
Great Lakes Capital out of South Bend gave a more detailed presentation on the proposed Red Arrow Bluffs complex to the planning commission Monday after a brief introduction last month. The plan is to construct seven buildings, three stories high, with covered parking, a community building, and a pool. There will also be washers and dryers in the units. Rents will range from $900 to $2,100 per month, depending on the unit size and location.
After the full township board’s approval of the rezoning Tuesday, Trustee Marc Florian told us this is an exciting development.
“It’s a great opportunity,” florian said. “Housing has been identified as a need in our community. It’s been identified as a need, quite frankly, throughout most of Michigan, and this is an element that will help satisfy that need here locally.”
Lincoln Township Supervisor Youngstedt told us he often hears from industrial businesses that a shortage of affordable housing makes it difficult for them to attract employees. This will help. Plus, Youngstedt said he believes this is the first new apartment complex in Lincoln Township since the 1950s.
The development will be located where the former Snowflake Motel used to be. Florian called this a step up.
“In the past, the property was used as a motel and restaurant facility. In the waning years of that facility, we had a lot of complaints. We had a lot of public service calls over there for a variety of reasons. Now the property’s been vanquished for pretty much the past 20 years almost now, and nobody has stepped forward to develop it.”
The Snowflake was torn down in 2006.
Now that the township approved the rezoning from mixed use commercial to heavy residential, the matter goes to Berrien County. After that, Florian said things will be even more interesting as the developers submit site plans to the township while in pursuit of a planned unit development permit.
If all goes well, ground could be broken for Red Arrow Bluffs this year with apartments available for rent next year.
