Berrien County is lowering its asking price for a 36-acre piece of property in Three Oaks that it’s been trying to sell.

The county board of commissioners in 2024 authorized the purchase of the Schwark Drain Drainage District at 6974 US-12, the site of a failed residential development back in the 2000s. The county drain commissioner had borrowed money to improve the land, but the treasurer later foreclosed on the developer for unpaid property taxes, leaving the county with $551,000 in debt.

The board of commissioners paid the debt off last year, bought the site, and then listed it for sale with an asking price of $600,000 in February this year. However, it hasn’t sold and on Thursday, the board voted to lower the asking price to $500,000 and extend the listing with realtor Brian Savage to the end of the year.

County Administrator Brian Dissette tells us this could help along the sale.

“I’m hopeful with the extension of the listing agreement that Mr. Savage will have success in finding the right buyer, and I hope to have that buy-sell agreement in front of the board of commissioners in the coming weeks, hopefully not much longer than that,” Dissette said.

When the listing was approved in February, it was expected at least a few offers would be made to the county. Past proposals for the property have included residential and recreational developments, and even a solar farm.

Dissette says the county is eager to sell the site and get it back into use soon.