The real estate arm of Harbor Shores has been busy lately, planning new housing projects all over the Benton Harbor area.

Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment President Chris Cook tells us a big recent development is its purchase of the former Modern Plastics site at 489 North Shore Drive. The first step is to conduct environmental assessments and cleanup on the roughly ten acres. So, what’s next for it?

“At this point, we really don’t have plans other than to get that eyesore removed,” Cook said. “We hope that we can put some housing there, but it’s really going to all depend on those environmentals.”

Cook says Harbor Shores is also looking at a development at Parcels One and Two, or the former site of a water tower in St. Joseph near the Inn at Harbor Shores and M-63.

“What we’re thinking there is condos and or hotel, a lot of townhome product, some single family product,perhaps an apartment.”

Cook says the success of the Emma Jean Hull Flats in Benton Harbor has revealed the true demand for apartments in the area.

Harbor Shores is also eyeing another site in St. Joe, at Upton Road and M-63 where Cook says they’re looking at perhaps another 50 housing units.

Finally, Cook says Harbor Shores is looking to develop some golf villas, and possibly senior housing, in Benton Township. Some of the plans have already been submitted to the township.

With all of these developments getting started, Cook says Harbor Shores is about 50% of the way to completing its total vision since it started about 15 years ago.