Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski does not want to enter the New Year still owning nearly half of the New Harbor Condominium development along Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor. When 43 of those condos were placed on the auction block back in July with a minimum bid of $144,000 the county got no bidders. Rather than carry over into the new year with those condos still on his plate, Witkowski is now willing to accept bids on those units as a single sale. You cannot individually select a unit and bid, your bid will have to be for all 43 of the 90 condo units in that complex overlooking the St. Joseph River.
Witkowski’s office foreclosed on those 43 condos back on April first of this year. The New Harbor development is located at 655 Riverview Drive in the City of Benton Harbor. The foreclosure was forced when taxes remained delinquent on the units for three full years. Even though the units were placed in the July foreclosure auction at the D.A.N.K. Hall in Benton Harbor, no bids were forthcoming, leaving the county as the property owner.
Witkowski says, “The goal of the Treasurer’s office is not to own property and this is no different, so I am accepting bids for the 43 units.” The other 47 units are not owned by the Berrien County Treasurer’s office.
Here are the requirements to be included in the bid of the 43 units only:
- State the price you are willing to pay for the full contingent of 43 units…
- Describe your plan for the units (for which City of Benton Harbor approval is required)…
- Show your ability to provide financial proof to pay monthly dues and for the work that would be proposed…
- Provide a timeline for the work to be completed…
Bids will be accepted until a bidder who is able to demonstrate they can, and will, improve the property in a positive way so as to have a positive effect for other businesses along Riverview Drive and for the City of Benton Harbor overall.
Questions regarding the process should be directed to Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski.
