Officials say mitigation parcel issue and canceled federal grants stalled major Benton Harbor projects
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Summary
Officials told the commission a mitigation parcel sold under an emergency manager has blocked parks grant eligibility since about 2015; a planned $17.5 million CGI grant and a $3.3 million solar grant were canceled and legal action is pending to restore funding for projects including the Bobo Brazil Center and Hall Park phases.
Benton Harbor — City officials updated commissioners on several stalled capital projects, saying a mitigation-parcel dispute and canceled federal grants have limited progress on the state theater, the Bobo (Brazil) Center renovation and Hall Park improvements.
Mister Little told the meeting the city has been unable to apply for state and federal parks-and-recreation grants since about 2015 after an emergency manager sold mitigation property that had been counted as the city’s mitigation acreage. The parcel now hosts a dialysis center, and Mister Little said the city is arranging a certified appraisal and seeking a comparable parcel that could be donated so the city can regain eligibility for grants, which he said can be "up to $400,000 at a time."
He also reviewed larger federal grant activity: the city’s application for a CGI grant (about $17.5 million) that would have covered broader renovation work was canceled by the current administration and remains in legal challenge, and a related $3.3 million solar grant that would have funded solar collectors was canceled as well. Mister Little said some legal action is ongoing to attempt restoration of canceled funds.
On Hall Park, Mister Little said the full plan was about $3.4 million; the city used $1 million in ARPA funds for phase one (courts and walkways), with additional phases awaiting further funds.
Commissioners asked for follow-up details and copies of appraisals and grant-status documents; staff said they would provide more precise figures after the appraisal is complete.
