Governor Whitmer Header

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* 

January 28, 2026 

Contact: [email protected] 

 

*Gov. Whitmer Announces New Housing and Commercial Spaces Coming to Benton Harbor and Midland* 

 

*LANSING, Mich. *– Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced two redevelopment projects receiving support from the bipartisan Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program, creating housing and commercial space in Benton Harbor and Midland. Together, the projects will generate a total capital investment of over $8.5 million in the state while activating vacant properties and increasing community vibrancy. 

 

“Michigan is open for business and on the move, and these new placemaking projects will revitalize buildings in Benton Harbor and Midland, making both communities more vibrant places to live,” said *Governor Whitmer. *“Programs like RAP help us attract and retain talented workers, lower costs, enable business creation and attraction, and make Michigan the best place to live, work, and play. Let’s keep working together to help more families ‘make it’ in Michigan.” 

 

“By investing in Michigan’s communities, the MEDC is supporting their growth and resilience as part of the state’s ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic development strategy,” said the *MEDC’s SVP of Community Planning and Development Readiness Michele Wildman*. “We look forward to seeing how these projects uplift the downtowns for Benton Harbor and Midland by generating economic activity and adding residential density.” 

 

The RAP program provides access to gap financing for place-based infrastructure development and real estate rehabilitation and development. 

 

In the *City of Benton Harbor*, three adjacent, partially vacant buildings will be revitalized to create eight new apartments on the upper floor, a reconfigured commercial space on the main floor, and a construction lab in the basement.  

 

Developer and current commercial tenant Abonmarche Consultants [ [link removed] ] is a multidisciplinary firm originating in Benton Harbor that specializes in engineering, architecture, land surveying, and urban planning.  

 

With the support of a $1.5 million RAP grant, Abonmarche will rehabilitate the buildings to suit their office needs while adding critical housing to the downtown corridor. The project is expected to bring a total capital investment of $4,320,017, and the City of Benton Harbor is anticipated to provide approximately $1,136,000 in reimbursement from the local portion of a Housing Tax Increment Financing Plan over the next 25 years. 

 

“Abonmarche extends its sincere appreciation to the MEDC and the City of Benton Harbor for their partnership and support throughout this redevelopment effort,” said *Daryl Knip, president and CEO of Abonmarche*. “This Main Street location has been our home for over forty years, and we are proud to contribute to a project that advances a collective vision for the future. The integration of new residential units over modern office space represents another important step in strengthening and activating the Main Street district.” 

 

“The City of Benton Harbor is pleased and grateful for the $1.5 million Revitalization and Placemaking grant in support of the Abonmarche Benton Harbor Office Renovation project,” said *Benton Harbor City Manager Alex Little*. “Without this grant, the additional $3 million investment in this downtown revitalization of three adjacent underutilized buildings would most likely not have occurred.  With the support of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and MEDC CEO Quentin Messer these eight apartments and commercial space are significant steps in our efforts at rebuilding downtown Benton Harbor.” 

 

In the *City of Midland*, the historic Odd Fellows Building will be redeveloped into a mixed-use building featuring three commercial spaces and five new apartments, adding residential density and foot traffic to the downtown area while revitalizing the functionally obsolete building. 

 

The project is being supported by a $1,424,213 RAP grant to alleviate the cost of construction with a historic redevelopment – including lead paint and asbestos removal – and is expected to bring a total capital investment of $4,217,080. The MEDC will also support the project through an approved Act 381 Work Plan, with Brownfield Tax Increment Financing of $295,817. 

 

The development entities of Monarch Associates, LLC, and 116 Rodd LLC, are led by Dan Dimitroff. The team has been developing and managing properties since the mid-1980s and received MEDC support through a $1 million Michigan Community Revitalization Program grant and $420,000 in Brownfield TIF in local and state school tax capture for the Mill End Lofts project [ [link removed] ] in downtown Bay City. 

 

“We are so grateful to work with the MEDC on this project, said *developer Dan Dimitroff*. “The team from MEDC has been professional and intentional throughout the process. These projects do not happen without full buy-in from the city and the state. We are so thankful that Midland has been so welcoming. It is an honor to be the next custodian of The Odd Fellows Building Downtown Midland. As a development team our number one priority is the communities that we serve. We are proud to be from Michigan and look forward to doing more great work together with the MEDC.”  

 

The City of Midland is supporting the project with a local tax abatement through the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act (OPRA) valued at approximately $167,306. The City of Midland Brownfield Redevelopment Authority also approved local tax capture estimated at $303,076 to be reimbursed over approximately 27 years in support of the project. 

 

“The Odd Fellows Building has been part of Midland’s story for 150 years, and this project ensures it remains part of our story for generations to come,” said *Mayor Maureen Donker*. “We are grateful to RDS Management for their vision and investment, and for their commitment to preserving our history while creating new opportunities for people to live, work and enjoy Downtown Midland.” 

 

Since its launch in 2022, the Revitalization and Placemaking program has supported 258 total projects in communities across the state.  

 

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