Harbor Shores Progress

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Posted: 5:46 PM Aug 10, 2007
Last Updated: 6:16 PM Aug 10, 2007
Reporter: Stephanie Stang
Email Address: stephanie.stang@wndu.com

7 comments

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Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is expected to put the finishing touches on a Michiana golf course helping move along a project that’s been in the making for four years.

This Sunday Nicklaus will visit the Harbor Shores project in Berrien County.

Project leaders say construction is on schedule.

So far in preparation for the 18 hole golf course most of the trees have been cleared, almost 40 homes demolished, and soon tons of garbage will be hauled away.

Once done by 2009 Harbor shores is expected to bring two thousand jobs to the community, clean up the vacant land, and revitalize the area.

“It should be a tremendous boast. It will be a systemic transformation here in Benton Harbor and to the extent in St. Joe that will it will be a help to solve the literacy problem,” says Mark Hesemann from the Harbor Shores project.

Besides the golf course plans also include restoring the Jean Klock Park.

The project is expected to cost 500 million dollars and also features new residential units, two hotels, a convention center, and indoor water park.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Donna Location: Benton Harbor on Apr 10, 2008 at 11:32 AM
I reside in the city of Benton Harbor and the promises that Harbor Shores are making are just false. The Upjohn Institute has give the model job number of the Harbor Shores project and there are only to be 734 jobs that will be created from the project. They say that there are to be two hotels and a indoor water park, this is found not to be true because they don't have any investors intrested in building the hotels and the investors of the indoor water park has dropped out and went New Buffalo. And why do we need a golf course, when we are just getting by and making a living? And if bringing a Jack Nicklaus signature course is suppose to stimulate the economy because its JACK, then why have five of his signature golf courses fallen into bankruptcy?? No Golf Course for the residents of Benton Harbor.

Posted by: mike Location: mishawaka on Mar 21, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Having grown up in St. Joseph I think the environmentalist need to understand how underutilized and unpleasant most of this land that is being developed is/was. The wetlands was a dumping ground for trash(large appliances, mattresses, etc..) The dunes around the beach were a place for underaged kids to go at night for partying. I think having a beautiful golf course there will actually attract wildlife. It certainly will bring in much needed tax support to the communities. The beach has been very underutilized in the past. I honestly believe this will also attract people to the beautiful beaches we have to offer. What else could all this land be used for? A factory? Unless you truely have walked over these areas and have seen how unpleasant and "un-parklike" they are give this development idea some postive thoughts.

Posted by: pati Location: benton harbor,mi on Dec 12, 2007 at 05:14 PM
It's very interesting to see the difference in opinion about the Harbor Shores/Jack Nicklaus developement/destruction. Jean Klock Park is a memorial of an infant, Jean Klock. She was a real, living person. Just because Jack wants something doesn't mean he should get it. As a matter of fact, Mr. Nicklaus designed a golf course as a memorial to his son who passed away, and a tournament is played in his name. Mr. Nicklaus is a hypocrite!! What makes his child so much better than John and Carrie Klock's beloved daughter? Jack needs to give the same respect to the Klock's that he would like given to his son's memory.

Posted by: tim Location: los angeles on Nov 16, 2007 at 01:55 AM
how is attempting to revitalizing an economically poor area wrong? everyone knows that jean klock park is a dump and a magnet for "shady" activity so the people aren't using it for that which it was designated. the economy in michigan needs jobs and the attitude that development is bad is not good for anyone. it is natural to be resistant to change and i'm all for preserving the lakefront, but let's be honest, this is the best thing to happen to southwest michigan in 100 years.

Posted by: LuAnne Kozma Location: Michigan on Aug 19, 2007 at 11:42 AM
"Project leaders" are developers who spin their project in the best light possible. Harbor Shores would NOT "restore" Jean Klock Park. Putting a golf course inside Jean Klock Park's dunes, conserved for 90 years, is destruction and exploitation, not restoration. The truth is that golf or any development inside Jean Klock Park's dunes and wetlands goes against a Berrien County Court decision. The proposal to remove public parkland from Jean Klock Park is up to the National Park Service. Report on facts, not developer's spin. See: www.savejeanklockpark.org

Posted by: Philip Location: Three Oaks, Mi on Aug 13, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Harbor Shores' development plan is a travesty of narrow minded, greedy economics. Non- alluent citizens are left behind in this fantastic,hyperdriven scheme to refashion what already exemplifies the Michigan region's uniqueness and increase the value of nearby real estate held by insiders..Stand on St. Joseph's lakeshore on Upton Drive, look east with field glasses and you will see whose backyard this plan really benefits. That the Harbor Shores plan has gotten this far without more repudiation from the governance sector points directly to a leadership vacuum in Michigan.Golf courses fail to deliver sound investment in real jobs for the future. Golf rounds played have remained at a flat level even though numerous courses have been built in recent years. Dont tell me this private equity "harbors" hope for working people. All the jobs were shipped out a long time ago and Benton Harbor got bought at bargain basement prices by an investment group. So there!

Posted by: Gretchen Location: Benton Harbor, MI on Aug 10, 2007 at 08:56 PM
Looks like you've bought into the Harbor Shores "hype" like so many others. Is it necessary to plunder all our great natural resources for the sake of the almighty dollar? Of the 2000 (possible)jobs you mention, how many will be above minimum wage? What real rewards will the citizens of Benton Harbor reap from this - not many. They will loose a beautiful park, a gift to the residents to enjoy "forever". I guess forever came more quickly than expected, huh?. How many residents of Benton Harbor will be able to afford the greens fees at this "signature" course? The only people who will reap the rewards of destroying Jean Klock Park for another golf course (as if we don't have enough of them within a 20 mile radius), and its natural wetlands will be corporate (guess who's)execs, and "gentrified" guests. I feel there should be a greeting sign at Klock Rd. that says, "Welcome to Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, where everything is up for sale-not just real estate, but our heritage too"!