The Niles Township Board of Trustees approved the rezoning of two township properties in order to allow family-owned Selge Construction to expand its business less than 200 feet to the east.

Marv Selge, owner of Selge Construction, which employs more than 60 people, said his company plans to use the extra space for storage of equipment and other construction materials.

The company has already purchased the two properties (1217 Ontario and 1225 Ontario), which will be rezoned from residential to general business.

“It was a real blessing that we were able to purchase them and get them rezoned and move a little bit more to the east,” said Selge, a Brandywine High School graduate and Niles native. “That is all I believe we will ever need… we’ve been very fortunate over the years to have steady growth and this will sustain us.”

Selge said he plans to make the area as aesthetically pleasing as possible, including extending to the new area the company’s current rod-iron gate with brick pillars that runs along Ontario Street. A privacy fence will be installed where the property runs up against the property of a current residence to the east.

“We want people when they come into our community to say this is a great place and a place I would like to live,” he said.

Selge Construction has been at its 2833 S. 11th St. location (the corner of South 11th and Ontario) for 55 years. It was founded by Selge’s father, Marvin, Sr.

Marv, Jr., bought the business from his father in the early 1990s.

Selge provides a wide variety of construction services to clients in Michiana and beyond.

The company is also known for its charitable causes, including restoring the Brandywine High School athletic fields and helping build the Edwardsburg Sports Complex, which is currently under construction.

Niles Township Clerk Terry Eull said the rezoning of the two properties was approved by a unanimous vote at Monday’s regular meeting.

The rezone was also approved by the township’s planning commission and Berrien County Planning Commission, Eull said.