The old adage of ‘nothing good happens fast’ is proving true once again, this time in connection with the plan to redevelop 400Riverview Drive, the former Chase Bank Building on the St. Joseph River in Benton Harbor.
In January of last year, three local businessmen told MoodyOnTheMarket.com that they had purchased the brick and glass structure that dominates the space just upriver from Whirlpool’s North American headquarters complex. They outlined a vision for a mixed use development of residential condominiums on upper floors and a mass appeal casual upscale restaurant on the main level, all offering striking views of the River or the City.
Those plans are still very much on target, and moving forward a step at a time, according to our discussion this week with one of the developers, Tim Noonan, president of Mead and White, an electrical contracting firm. Noonan explained that it’s simply taken longer to create the detailed plans and drawings for the project. And those detailed plans are necessary before Benton Harbor’s planning commission and city commissioners can give the green light for serious construction to start.
Noonan enthusiastically told us that there are no problems, no issues, no roadblocks to the project. “It’s a process,” he said, “And we are moving through that process with the City. They’ve been very supportive, and we fully expect to move to the construction phase.”
Noonan said the developers have not been plagued by any financial issues and feel confident the project will be embraced by investors when that phase comes around.
“Up til now, “ he said, “we’ve been slowly dealing with demo work, removing the remnants of the bank and other tenants. When it’s time for new construction, we’ll be ready.”
Noonan and his associates envision at least a dozen high-quality condo units on the upper three floors of the building, with striking views of the River, the Lake and the City. On the main level, they see a full-service restaurant. Noonan said preliminary discussions with at least two possible restaurant operators have been very encouraging. He said one is from the region and the other from out of state.
Partners in the 400 Riverview Group, LLC are:
Shane Franks, owner of Greespan Construction, a builder of residential and commercial properties in Southwest Michigan.
Tim Noonan is the owner and President of Mead & White Electric, an electrical contractor in the area for decades.
Howard Litaker is a partner in a produce brokerage, SMP Marketing, selling the products of SW Michigan’s growers.
Joe Porter is a Nashville, Tennessee based real estate investor and affiliated with Litaker. Porter brings experience in real estate development to the project.
Noonan told us the group is as enthusiastic as ever about the Riverview development and encouraged by other projects that seem to be moving forward in the City, as well as the cooperation they have received from Benton Harbor city commissioners, Mayor Marcus Muhammad and the Planning Commission at several meetings during the past year.
For a complete review of the background of the 400 Riverview Drive plans, see our MOTM exclusive story from January, 2023;
by Gayle Olson, MOTM Contributor
