South Haven Edging Toward New Affordable Apartment Development

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The city of South Haven has taken a step forward with a residential development planned for the former Overton factory site on Elkenburg Street. During meeting of the South Haven City Council this past week, a rezoning of the property at 229 Elkenburg from light industrial to multi family residential was approved. Chicago-based Habitat Company is looking to build an apartment complex there. Some residents at the meeting expressed concern about contamination that could be at the former factory. City Manager Kate Hosier said remediation of that would be part of the project.

“Our rezoning is just an operation changing the zoning here,” Hosier said. “That doesn’t mean they get to go out there and build tomorrow. There’s many other different approvals that have to be done, and a Brownfield plan, which does exist on the site which was done to facilitate the demolition on the property, could be tailored to deal with the remediation.”

It’s one of the city council’s top goals to bring more affordable housing to South Haven, and this project is intended to help achieve that goal. Rents in the complex would vary from around $870 per month to about $1,200. A tax exemption program with the state would make that possible. Various income levels would qualify for different units. The council will consider the sale of the property to Habitat Company, along with an application for the state tax program, at a future meeting. The council on Monday also approved rezoning three parcels on Indiana Avenue from light industrial to single family residential.