Any late sleepers aboard private boats in the Harbor Shores Marina got a rousing wake up call this morning from the Benton Harbor High School Drum Line who kicked off ceremonies welcoming the new Harbor Village neighborhood in a thrilling start to the next phase of the transformational changes in the region.
With developers poised to place shovels into the ground today, Harbor Shores President Jeff Noel thanked the Drum Line and predicted that the new Harbor Village neighborhood “Will be a very special place to live, to work and to recreate.” He added, “It will be a development in which people come together and forge lasting relationships. A development that is truly a lasting legacy for generations to come.” In fact, Noel predicted, “It will be a development that will be just as special a hundred years from now as it will be next year and the year after.”
During those two years and beyond, the eagerly anticipated home sales for the Harbor Village project are now underway. Harbor Village, which sits at the confluence of the St. Joseph and Paw Paw Rivers is the newest and largest neighborhood in the Lake Michigan resort and waterfront community of Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.
Inasmuch as Harbor Village is the seventh Harbor Shores Resort neighborhood in seven years time, the project has quickly attracted more than 100 sales inquiries just since it was announced last fall. The first development phase of Harbor Village, which broke ground today, will introduce 78 homes to the market, including 30 single-family homes and 48 attached townhomes and rowhomes. Construction is underway on two single-family models, with additional U-Court cottages and five townhomes with golf course views slated for construction later this year.
The Harbor Village community which was designed to highlight the neighborhood’s proximity and sightlines to the waterfront covers 11 acres of waterfront property at the point where the Paw Paw River and St. Joseph River intersect at Lake Michigan. With many of the homes enjoying waterfront views of the Paw Paw River and the St. Joseph River and a 60-slip deep water marina, Harbor Village boasts an inviting nautical atmosphere combined with a historic architectural identity.
The homes to be built at Harbor Village feature architecture reminiscent of the southwest Michigan communities of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. With its rare combination of advantages, Harbor Village is attracting both year-round residents and those who are seeking vacation homes just 90-minutes from Chicago.
Kerry Wright II is Director of Real Estate Sales & Marketing for Harbor Shores. He told a crowd of several dozen people this morning that with today’s groundbreaking, “Home sales are formally underway for Harbor Village and interested buyers now have the opportunity to purchase a coveted piece of waterfront property in St. Joseph.” He adds, “Two single-family model homes at Harbor Village are scheduled for completion next spring, with the townhomes shortly thereafter. We welcome prospective buyers to the area to experience the Harbor Shores community and its exceptional outdoor attractions that make St. Joseph one of the most coveted summer destinations in the Midwest.”
The Harbor Shores Discovery Package enables interested and prospective buyers to experience the Harbor Shores lifestyle and meet with Resident Ambassadors who can provide valuable insights into the community. The $299 package includes overnight accommodations for two at The Inn at Harbor Shores, dinner at Plank’s Tavern inside the Inn, and a choice of activities such as two rounds of golf or a spa experience.
One of the single-family models currently under construction features a land plan made popular in Charleston, South Carolina, a city noted for its great beauty and charm. Known as a side yard cottage, the home is placed to one side of the site to maximize the space within the side yard. Homes range from 1,600 to 2,100 square feet with three or four bedrooms, 2 ½ baths and popular open concept living areas. Prices start in the high $300s.
The second of the models represents traditional single-family homes, ranging from 1,800 to 3,000 square feet with prices from the low $400s to the low $600s. These floor plans may have three to four bedrooms or more and three baths. Overlooking green space and the Paw Paw River, these homes offer scenic natural views.
The U-Court Homes, attached in groups of five around a courtyard, and the townhomes are priced from the high $200s. Many of these two-story plans have first-floor master suites as well as additional bedrooms and 2 ½ baths.
Wright says, “All of these semi-custom homes feature Coastal Shingle Style architecture, with high pitched rooflines and inviting front porches that extend nearly to the sidewalks.” Additionally, he notes, “The homes feature thoughtful designs and quality craftsmanship and are enhanced by lush landscaping and shade trees for privacy and a sense of relaxation. Garages are hidden in the rear of the home and every element of the neighborhood has been planned to nurture and sustain a lively community and enable residents to make friends and enjoy a strong sense of camaraderie. Twelve miles of walking paths within and around the community provide easy access to every area of interest, including Lake Michigan beaches and the marina.”
Exceptional recreational attractions of the project are the focus of the lifestyle at Harbor Shores and Harbor Village. Evergreen Development, the developer of Harbor Shores, has created a community of several neighborhoods that reflects inspired land planning, architecture and landscaping that respects the natural environment and creates a powerful sense of community.
The highlight of the 530-acre community is the Jack Nicklaus Signature Design Golf Course, home site of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship through 2024.
Harbor Village is located adjacent to another attraction, The Inn and Spa at Harbor Shores, a boutique 92-room hotel that is a destination for special events. The beautiful deep water marina on Lake Michigan is a favorite spot for sailors and power boat enthusiasts, and other amenities include neighborhood swimming pools with a clubhouse, five Lake Michigan beaches, and a state-of-the-art health and fitness center. The Renaissance Athletic Club is another popular amenity.
Noel calls Harbor Shores “One piece of a building block set of developments that have been ongoing in this community for 30-plus years now.”
With this neighborhood being the seventh Harbor Shores neighborhood in seven years, Wright told the group today, “I know of no other real estate community or development in the Midwest, or anywhere, that has accomplished what this community has accomplished in a short amount of time.” In fact, he calls the new project “a direct response to the huge demand that Harbor Shores has seen in SW Michigan.” Especially because more than 80-percent of his available real estate in all existing projects has now been sold. As a result of his outreach over the weekend, 7 of the 78 lots have already been reserved by buyers, so “We’re off to a good start!”
In addition to the beautiful natural environment and numerous attractions at Harbor Shores, residents of Harbor Village have access to the historic charm and other highlights that have long drawn visitors to Michigan’s Great Southwest. The charming downtowns boast quaint shops and cafes and the Benton Harbor Arts District for the arts as it hosts cultural events. Award-winning wineries, craft beer breweries, farmers’ markets that sell local produce and world-class entertainment are part of the local color. Outdoor activities include boating, fishing and kayaking, sailing, winter-time skiing, equestrian activities and bird and wildlife watching.
Later this year and early next year another great amenity will be forthcoming in the form of a pedestrian bridge across the Paw Paw River that will connect the entire site to downtown Benton Harbor and the Benton Harbor Arts District.
The photo above shows the Benton Harbor Drum Line performing overlooking the inner harbor while the photo below is an example of a Harbor Village Townhome project.
For more information, visit http://harborshoreslife.com or call (269) 932-1600.
