A controversial plan to develop Benton Harbor’s waterfront park as part of an elite golf course could be in trouble. Critics say it’s being pushed by “predatory” developers, won’t help the impoverished small town and might hurt low-income and minority residents. The city commission meets Monday to consider the proposal.

The plan, called Harbor Shores, is backed by the locally-based Whirlpool Corporation. The governor’s office has offered total support (and $120 million in economic incentives) and the project has also benefited from the federal New Markets Tax Credit program. The 530-acre project would include 860 residential units, a 350-room hotel conference center, 27,000 square feet of commercial and retail space and an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course.

Billed by the state government as a public-spirited, grassroots plan for community redevelopment, the project was blocked by the National Park Service (NPS) late last year for failing to involve the local community in decision-making and offering inadequate parcels in trade for the waterfront.

Developers resubmitted the plan, and the NPS-mandated public hearing and comment period, which concluded last month, revealed deep concerns about the plan and its purported benefits to the town. Over 300 written comments were submitted to the city.

Jean Klock Park is the only Lake Michigan waterfront owned by an African-American community and the proposed golf development has emerged as a national environmental justice story with pieces in The Washington Post, and Chicago Tribune. Last month, Michigan Messenger revealed that two top backers of the project, Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) and Whirlpool CEO Jeff Fettig, live just down the street from the planned course.

Continued – The golf project is dependent on public financing and therefore requires the approval of local government. It is not certain the project will receive that approval. In the time since the proposal was originally submitted through the city of Benton Harbor, the city commission itself has changed, in large part due to concerns over Harbor Shores. Three new commissioners have replaced some who supported Harbor Shores in the last go-round, and recall efforts have emerged against three others. The project must get five of the nine commission votes to advance to the required state and federal review. There is also a new city manager since the project last passed through city government.

The changing attitudes of city government can be seen in a special strategy and goals workshop held by the city last month.

Staff, city commissioners and citizens emerged from facilitated workshop discussions with a statement that read:

“We will reevaluate the Harbor Shores agreement concerning community benefits.”

Commissioner Juanita Henry, who is the chair of the Public Safety, Public Works, Parks and Recreation committee, said, “I took that to mean we are going to reevaluate the whole project