Improving housing affordability in Southwest Michigan
When Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad and I toured Harbor Towers in 2024, we saw firsthand how years of deferred maintenance had put residents’ safety at risk. The people who called those apartments home deserved better, and I was determined to make sure Washington did its part.
That work has now reached an important milestone. The $51 million redevelopment of Harbor Towers and Buss Avenue Apartments has secured final federal approval and reached closing, clearing the way to renovate 173 affordable homes. The project will address overdue repairs, improve accessibility, and modernize 95 apartments at Harbor Towers and 78 at Buss Avenue while preserving their long-term affordability.
Getting here took persistence and a willingness to work together. Alongside Mayor Muhammad, the Benton Harbor Housing Commission, and community partners, I worked to secure the federal support this redevelopment needed. I raised residents’ safety concerns in the House Financial Services Committee, and I’m grateful to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner for working with us to move this project forward.
This partnership brings together federal, state, local, and private resources to make a lasting investment in Benton Harbor. Beyond the renovations, the redevelopment is expected to generate more than $27 million in economic activity, supporting local contractors, suppliers, skilled trades, and small businesses.
