Emma Jean Hull Flats open doors, new housing in Benton Harbor

 

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- The doors to Benton Harbor’s newest housing complex are now officially open!  

“I thought I could imagine what it might look like, but this has been more than what I could ever thought I could imagine it would be,” says former mayor of Benton Harbor, Emma Jean Hull. 

The Emma Jean Hull Flats, just across the street from Whirlpool Headquarters, will soon be home to 80 Benton Harbor families. Some units are already reserved for local public service workers.  

Amenities include a rooftop terrace, an exercise facility, Whirlpool appliances, and an ideal location off the Paw Paw River.   

The need for quality housing is something recognized by Benton Harbor leaders.  

“They saw a need, a need for housing in this community,” Hull says. “A need for people to have a good place to live to raise their children or just to come and have a place to themselves.”  

The new development is named after former mayor of Benton Harbor Emma Jean Hull, who served from 1991-1997 and spearheaded the turnaround for the housing issue in Benton Harbor.  

“She started a revolution in Benton Harbor, where just four years prior to her becoming mayor, it was deemed the worst city in America,” explains current mayor of Benton Harbor, Marcus Muhammad. “So she started the revitalization of the city, and this development starts the revitalization and revolution of a new housing in Benton Harbor.”  

Although developers say it was a no-brainer to name the flats in honor of her legacy, she says it’s quite the honor.  

“I never expected for anything to be named after me because what I was doing, I was doing it for the people,” says Hull. 

They say it’s just the beginning of the new housing revolution in the Benton Harbor community.  

“After this and after today, I don’t know, they might have to build another one right away because they’re going to want another one like this,” Hull says.

Units are now available for leasing! Rent starts at $1,350/month and there are one- and two-bedroom unit options.  

For more information—you can head to emmajhullflats.com.