St. Joseph City Commission Approves MOU for Potential Downtown Development

The St. Joseph City Commission Monday evening approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an area developer that could bring the first commercial development project to downtown in nearly 30 years.

The City Commission approved the MOU with The Rienks Group, which eventually wants to build 100 residential units and ground-floor retail space along Lake Boulevard between Pleasant Street and Broad Street. TRG also wants to buy the Broad Street parking lot from the City and build a new parking structure, replacing the 57 spaces in the Broad Street lot and adding at least one parking space for every residential unit in the new development.

The MOU outlines terms of a potential agreement, including the conditions for both the City and TRG to meet for the proposed development to move forward for consideration by the City’s Planning Commission.

In approving the MOU, the City Commission confirmed TRG’s requests were acceptable and the City wouldn’t move forward unless TRG met the requirements outlined in the agreement.

“We are very excited to discuss the potential of the first commercial development in our downtown since the Boulevard Hotel was built in 1988,” City Manager Emily Hackworth said. “This MOU is just the first of many steps in potentially welcoming new development to our downtown.”

Under the MOU, the City will explore establishing a Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program to reimburse TRG for the cost of building the parking structure. The City also would sell the parking lot land on the northeast corner of Lake Boulevard and Broad Street, consider a special use permit for a building height above 55 feet and no higher than 80 feet, and execute a master lease for public parking within the new parking structure.

In return, TRG is expected to build 100 residential units – 32 condos and 68 apartments – and ground floor retail space as well as purchase the Broad Street parking lot and build a new parking structure.

The MOU is the first step of many before any property sales or formal planning for the development. According to the City, future steps will include opportunities for community feedback.

“We look forward to engaging community members along the way and partnering with the team at The Rienks Group,” said Hackworth. “They have worked within our downtown in the past and understand and appreciate its unique character.”

TRG has worked in downtown St. Joseph before, purchasing and renovating the Rice Block building that houses Jimmy John’s and seven apartments and also purchasing and renovating “The Hamilton” a condominium on State Street that is used for short term rentals.

“I love this town. I grew up just down the road in Edwardsburg, in a modest household where a day at Silver Beach was our idea of a perfect vacation.” said Peter Rienks, Founder and President of the Rienks Group. “St. Joseph has always been a special place for me — and now, years later, I’m proud to be investing in this community. We are deeply committed to contributing to the long-term success and vitality of this city.”

The City's Downtown Vision Master Plan lays out goals for the downtown, including reinforcing its distinct character and sense of place while accommodating desirable development on underutilized land. This goal includes identifying and exploring priority development opportunities that would serve as catalysts for improvement and investment within downtown as well as exploring opportunities for public-private development partnerships that incorporate public amenities as part of private development, such as parking, open space, and gathering spaces.

Additionally, a 2024 housing study conducted by Cornerstone Alliance identified key challenges to St. Joseph’s vibrancy and livability, including a shrinking population of young people and a lack of available housing. The study showed a need for an additional 900 units in the city.

As part of the MOU, apartments will be priced at or below 120% of the area median income – a level that appeals to young people and families.

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City of St. Joseph
The City of St. Joseph is a historic town located off of I-94 between Chicago and Detroit, nestled beside the mouth of the St. Joseph River and Lake Michigan. With a population of about 7,800, the small town features a quaint downtown with local shops, historic buildings and brick streets overlooking a clear view of Lake Michigan sunsets and the iconic inner and outer lighthouses. St. Joseph is the Berrien County seat and home to the popular county-owned Silver Beach.

The Rienks Group
The Rienks Group (TRG) was founded in 2017 by Peter Rienks, beginning as a part-time real estate venture focused on small residential and commercial investments. With a background in architecture and utility-scale energy development, Peter brought a strategic and design-minded approach to each project. By 2019, as interest and demand grew, he and Jason Alphenaar formally launched TRG as a full-time real estate development and general contracting firm based in South Bend, Indiana.

What started with small commercial renovations and property acquisitions has grown into full-scale commercial developments and construction, from local coffee shops to airport facilities. The team has taken on increasingly complex design-build projects and broadened their impact across the region.

Today, Peter oversees all aspects of TRG’s operations—from strategy and hiring to project execution and long-term planning. His leadership is shaped by years of experience managing hundreds of millions of dollars in solar energy projects, where he led everything from deal sourcing and capital raising to construction oversight. Peter holds a Bachelor of Science of Architecture from Lawrence Technological University and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

TRG’s development division is led by Terry Malloy, who brings a strong background in real estate development, financial analysis and deal structuring. Before joining TRG, Terry worked for a developer-owner-operator in Pennsylvania, where he underwrote large-scale, mixed-use residential projects. His earlier experience in startups and venture capital also gives him a unique perspective on risk, growth, and innovation. Terry has both an MBA in finance and a BA in anthropology from the University of Notre Dame.

Together, the TRG team blends real-world execution with big-picture thinking, with a shared mission to deliver projects that not only meet today’s market needs but also elevate the communities they serve.