Local developers ask Benton Harbor to remove sale stipulations so private purchases of city properties can close

Kina King and Brian King of KB Ventures and K Riley Enterprises told the Benton Harbor City Commission they want to buy and renovate multiple city-area houses, highlighting 1135 Superior and 717 Colfax as properties they can renew for owner-occupancy or single-family use.

“We're asking for an opportunity to purchase property from the city to continue the work that we're doing,” Kina King said during the meeting. The pair described a track record of local rehabs they said have returned properties to productive use and increased the tax base.

The Kings said a private purchase already had a signed purchase agreement but was held up at the title company because of stipulations attached to the property by the city. They asked the commission to remove those stipulations so the sale can proceed. The buyers said they were prepared to provide a slideshow of past projects to demonstrate their work.

Commissioners discussed how the city acquired some properties (tax sales) and the original purpose of stipulations, which staff described as protections intended to ensure rehabilitation that is compatible with neighborhood character. City staff said some stipulations were put in place to require owner-occupancy or limit conversion to multiple small rental units.

Several commissioners spoke in favor of giving the local developers an opportunity, citing their renovation record, and emphasized safeguards: reversion clauses and performance timelines were discussed as tools to prevent purchasers from holding multiple properties without renovating them. The chair and city manager agreed to place separate items on the next full commission agenda — one resolution to remove specific stipulations and a second to approve any property sale; commissioners noted a charter two‑thirds vote requirement applies to selling city property.

No final sale or formal vote occurred at the committee meeting; staff said the item will go to the full commission (the chair identified the next meeting as the first Monday in December).