More details
about the $28 million economic project that will aim to improve Wyandotte Plaza
were released this week.
The project,
developed by RED Development LLC, includes a nearly 70,000 square-foot grocery
store (Price Chopper) at 78th Street and State Avenue and parking
lot improvements made to the Wyandotte Plaza.
Under the
proposal, a one percent CID (Community Improvement District) tax would be
established for all business done inside the district. RED Development is also
seeking to take advantage of the Unified Government’s NRA Tax Rebate program.
Though the
plan has received initial strong support, one business owner currently located
in the Wyandotte Plaza spoke out against the proposal during Thursday night’s
Unified Government Board of Commissioners meeting.
Jeff Barger,
who owns and operates Barger Chiropractic, expressed some concern about rent costs
and against the proposed one-percent CID tax.
“RED
Development has a lot of money,” Barger said. “Why should we make the citizens
pay? Business owners have real concern about the rent cost at Wyandotte Plaza.
If RED Developments jumps up the cost by 100, 200 or 500 percent, we’re all out
of there.”
Murrel Bland, representing "Business West," spoke out in support of the project - and actually said a larger district should be set up between 64th and State Avenue to 94th and State Avenue.
Murrel Bland, representing "Business West," spoke out in support of the project - and actually said a larger district should be set up between 64th and State Avenue to 94th and State Avenue.
The UG took
no actual vote on the project. The new Price Chopper would replace the current store located there.
More discussion and potentially a final vote will be held on May 3.
