Benton Harbor City Commissioners voted earlier this week to begin the process of turning some city-owned property over to a local group looking to develop housing.

The commissioners discussed setting up a contract option for the non-profit Benton Harbor Community Development Corporation to rehab 2 homes on Colfax and Superior. WSJM reports that bringing the homes up to code and assisting low to moderate income residents to buy them at a price agreeable to the corporation is the goal of the effort.

Mayor Marcus Muhammad says the agreement creates no risk to either The City or the corporation, and will help to grow the tax base.