The 400 Riverview Drive Group, LLC is taking exception to several impressions they say were given in a Monday morning MoodyOnTheMarket.com story on the status of their planned redevelopment of the former Chase Bank local headquarters building on Benton Harbor’s riverfront.
Partner Tim Noonan spoke with us Monday afternoon, saying there is no validity to our assessment that the project appears to be ‘dead in the water.’ Noonan said that couldn’t be further from the truth, that the development concept they have championed is still very much alive, and that listing the property for sale does not signify any degree of failure. He reasserted his 2024 comment that “Nothing good happens fast,” and pointed out that much has been done in the two and a half years since his investment group took over ownership of the old bank property.
MOTM had also pointed that out in our Monday article, sharing realtor photos of the interior of the four story structure, cleared of any vestige of the old bank and other tenants. Noonan, however, emphasized that much of the work they have done has been behind the scenes on the infrastructure of the building, bringing it up to today’s standards from its 1970’s design heritage.
Noonan told us that he felt that he and his partners had been painted negatively in the article. He added that no one has any idea of the effort and resources they have expended in their re-set of the building, preparing it for redevelopment. He expressed great confidence that their mixed-use concept, commercial/restaurant main level and residential/condominium upper levels will prove to be the winning formula for 400 Riverview Drive.
Noonan on Monday declined to outline any next steps or specific plans surrounding the group’s decision to list the building for sale for $3,250,000. He indicated those are private business strategies. However, he emphasized that the 400 Riverview Drive Group, LLC is still very active and intact, and still sees itself as playing a key role in the re-make of the building as a centerpiece of Benton Harbor’s riverfront future.
