City eyes Sugartree for TIF; would address infrastructure, blight removal

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WILMINGTON — Sugartree Street may be the next part of town to get a makeover.

During Thursday’s Wilmington City Council meeting, council performed the first reading of an ordinance on the 2019 Downtown TIF (tax increment financing). Taylor Stuckert, of the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission, told council the focus of this TIF is on infrastructure improvements, particularly on Sugartree Street, but with special attention on areas needing blight removal and clean-up.

“We’re also focusing on areas of in-field development as this district (Sugartree Street) transitions over time,” said Stuckert. “Historically it was more of an industrial district. I think you’ll see over the next 20 or 30 years some more commercial investment or residential investment. This could leverage in that type of development.”

He told council that nothing is set in stone as of now and more meetings are planned with local organizations, officials, and the firm developing the TIF.

A similar idea for the area was looked at in the early 2000s that Stuckert described as “broad-level” that gave a “high-level view of what the focus of the corridor could be.”

The idea is being revisited due to investments in the area such as the new Tin Cap opening and the renovations at The Escape.

“As the city starts looking at pedestrian safety and traffic improvements in the area, we just want to make sure we have a direction we can all get behind and move towards,” he said.

A second and third reading is scheduled for the next council meeting on Dec. 5.

Also during council:

• Mayor John Stanforth asked community members and locals to attend funeral services of Clyde Boyle at Faith Lutheran Church at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 25. Boyle was a Vietnam War veteran with no family or relatives. Boyle will be interred at Dayton National Cemetery with military honors.

• Ronald Clark, a Linden Avenue resident and co-captain of the East End Neighborhood Watch, asked that the city consider putting additional street lights on Columbus and Oak Streets due to concerns involving thefts and other suspicious activities. Stanforth and Safety/Service Director Brian Shidaker recommended Clark have residents sign a petition and bring it to the mayor’s office indicating what they want and so other residents know what’s happening.

Councilmember Matt Purkey speaks about upcoming projects happening throughout the city at Thursday’s Wilmington City Council meeting.
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/11/web1_DSC_0610.jpgCouncilmember Matt Purkey speaks about upcoming projects happening throughout the city at Thursday’s Wilmington City Council meeting. John Hamilton | News Journal

Taylor Stuckert of Clinton County Regional Planning talks to the Wilmington City Council about a possible TIF for the downtown area, including Sugartree Street, at Thursday’s meeting.
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/11/web1_DSC_0612.jpgTaylor Stuckert of Clinton County Regional Planning talks to the Wilmington City Council about a possible TIF for the downtown area, including Sugartree Street, at Thursday’s meeting. John Hamilton | News Journal

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/11/O-19-52-TIF-Ordinance.pdfCity of Wilmington

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/11/O-19-52-Downtown-Wilmington-TIF-Map-2-.pdfCity of Wilmington

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/11/web1_Wilmington-new-logo-1.jpgCity of Wilmington
Would address infrastructure, blight clean-up

By John Hamilton

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Reach John Hamilton at 937-382-2574

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