As the city of Benton Harbor looks to prevent flooding along Riverview Drive, it’s working with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission and contractors.
The planning commission’s Marcy Hamilton tells us the city has secured a $314,000 High Water Infrastructure Grant from the state to study the flooding and plan for natural solutions.
“What we got this grant to do is kind of look at how this area could be redeveloped and looking at nature-based solutions to address the flooding issues,” Hamilton said. “That’s like trying to use like a rain garden, like we put in at Meijer, solutions like that.”
The Benton Harbor City Commission this week approved an $80,000 contract with Drummond Carpenter to work on a plan. Additionally, Hamilton says Abonmarche is receiving $240,000 to do surveying and engineering.
Cornerstone Alliance is also pitching in funds.
This is all so Riverview Drive between Empire and Main Street can be better developed. Hamilton says City Manager Alex Little has told her developments have been prevented by the flooding.
“He’s told me that he’s had some folks come down there and look at some of the properties for development, but he says that when they see standing water or issues like that, it kind of sends up red flags. So, it’s a barrier to attracting development in that area.”
As the work is done throughout the year, there will be meetings with the community. Hamilton expects it will take about a year to develop a plan, and then more grants will have to be sought to implement the plan.
