Almost $1 billion dollars on two developments

[mgman]

Well it is not in either Kalamazoo or Battle Creek but Jul 5 was the last post so I decided to write something just to get a new topic up about my area. With two developments within three years of each other, Berrien County is seeing almost $1 Billion dollars in developments. The first is already opened and cost about $400 million dollars. It is the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo. I have not been yet but supposedly it is really nice. I do not gamble but will eventually go to the restaurants. The amount of jobs and buzz it created were huge. All those FIPs will bring their money and drop it in Michigan hopefully. You can read about some of the side effects here:

Casino Fuels Job Boom

The second development is in its early stages and is underwritten by numerous community organizations and most importantly Whirlpool and its charitable arm. The project is called Harbor Shores and is a $500 million dollar development that will include a hotel with indoor water park, Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course condos, townhomes, houses and commercial development. The project is quite controversial because it includes taking wetlands from a park for the golf course and cedes land from St. Joseph to Benton Harbor for a limited time. Some in Benton Harbor believe that the project will not benefit the minority citizens who live there now. The backers say it will provide money to the city and jobs. Whether or not it will actually do anything to improve the lives of low income people in BH only time will tell.

Map of proposal on the site of the group opposing development of the park:

Map of proposal

Detroit Free Press Article

Benton Harbor sees boon or bust in resort plan

The project has begun clearing the land and cleaning up of the brownfield sites. Most of the project is where the industrial factories of the cities used to be. They are hoping to open the golf course by the end of 2009 season. The local paper has a lot more articles but mandates subscription. 900 and some odd million dollars is a lot of development for a county with 163,000 people so I hope it all works out for everybody.

[bneidlinger]

What's this casino look like and is it in/close to downtown?

[mgman]

What's this casino look like and is it in/close to downtown?

[Eridony]

Wow, I wondering how long the Kalamazoo forum would be silent, and it was almost two months.

Anyway, I was surprised when I found out about that casino last year since there is casino in Michigan City already. I know that's a different state and a different owner, but still it's the same area.

[GR8scott]

and 45 min down the road there are a few more in Hammond, the new Buffalo loaction is much better than all the other ones in the middle of industrial wastelands, and just because its in Mi, it will draw all those people from Il who come here on the weekends for the "wilderness"

[mgman]

and 45 min down the road there are a few more in Hammond, the new Buffalo loaction is much better than all the other ones in the middle of industrial wastelands, and just because its in Mi, it will draw all those people from Il who come here on the weekends for the "wilderness"

[mgman]

Wow, I wondering how long the Kalamazoo forum would be silent, and it was almost two months.

Anyway, I was surprised when I found out about that casino last year since there is casino in Michigan City already. I know that's a different state and a different owner, but still it's the same area.

[Eridony]

Well, it looks like I am posting on the K-zoo board after a long pause with something that does not really affect Kalamazoo or Battle Creek but about the casino. The Blue Chip casino is laying off 6 percent of its workforce because of a decrease in revenues and attendance. The attendance dropped by 54,000 in August with a drop in 5 million dollars in revenues blamed mostly on Four Winds but they are also planning a 130 million dollar expansion including a giant hotel. That is to try and off set and compete with Four Winds.