Ground broken for residential development in South Haven

By James Windell

A new residential development in South Haven broke ground on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
The new development, according to Jaqua Realtors, is for homeowners looking for upscale living space paired with substantial room for recreational vehicles, boats, classic cars and other hobbies.
“We are thrilled to be working with the developers of an innovative new housing project called The Drifts of SoHa,” says Cindi Compton, a realtor with Jaqua Realtors. “This is an historic milestone for our community.”
Attending the groundbreaking ceremony were nearly 100 people who shared the excitement of Compton and her Jaqua colleague Mike Dubbink. Among those present at the groundbreaking were South Haven Mayor Annie Brown; South Haven City Manager Kate Hosier; Ross Stein, South Haven Charter Township Supervisor; Alex Grumbine, Director of Commercial Relationships at Honor Credit Union; Tim Dockerty co-owner and developer of The Drifts; and Dan Crist, co-owner and developer of The Drifts.
Located minutes from Lake Michigan and downtown South Haven, across from Autumn Design on 73 1/2 Street in South Haven Township, the gated community introduces a unique “live above your lifestyle” concept. The project features 45 loft units, each offering 1,500 square feet of upscale living space built directly above a 1,500-square-foot premium garage, which Compton says is perfect for storing boats, RVs, classic cars, or as a workshop. “Buyers can choose from two- and three-bedroom layouts, with options for larger configurations and private elevators,” Compton notes.
The neighborhood will also include premium community amenities, including a swimming pool, pickleball and basketball courts, walking trails, and preserved conservation areas. 
“This community bridges the gap between luxury living and the storage flexibility that Southwest Michigan residents and seasonal homeowners need,” Compton added.
“It was an honor to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Drifts of SoHa,” said Mayor Annie Brown after the ceremony. “Every community needs housing for all income levels and this is an exciting project. This is also a great example of collaboration between the City of South Haven and South Haven Township. South Haven Township Supervisor Ross Stein is doing amazing work to bring more housing to the township.”
Thanks to Public Act 90 of 2023, houses and certain housing development activities are now eligible for Brownfield Redevelopment funds even though there are no known environmental conditions. This change aims to encourage housing development if certain standards and requirements are met.  The Drifts of SoHa have an approved Brownfield Plan for this development. 
Brownfield Redevelopment Funds in Michigan are state‑authorized financing tools that help communities clean up, reuse, and redevelop contaminated, blighted, or functionally obsolete properties. They exist under Michigan’s Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act (Act 381 of 1996), which allows local governments to create Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities to support redevelopment.
“Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF) helps make housing projects financially viable in Michigan by using the future property tax increases generated by a development to reimburse a developer for upfront redevelopment costs,” explains Compton.
Brownfield funds are designed to revitalize properties that would otherwise be too costly or risky to redevelop, including sites with environmental contamination, abandoned buildings, tax‑reverted parcels, and obsolete industrial or commercial structures. The goal is to return these properties to productive use while protecting public health and the environment. Public Act 90 of 2023 now allows the state to reimburse “housing development activities” in communities with a demonstrated housing need.
According to Compton, construction for the Drifts of SoHa is expected to begin this summer.