UG approves Wyandotte Plaza project

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

The Unified Government Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to finalize a $28 million project with RED Development that would revitalize the Wyandotte Plaza at 78th and State Avenue.

Some quick details:

• A 75,000 Price Chopper store will be included in the center. Though a specific date of it opening is not available, under the agreement between the UG and RED, the store must be open by 2014. 

• A one percent Community Improvement District Tax will be placed on all goods inside the plaza. 

• The UG will provide up to $13.8 million in public financing. RED Development will also participate in the UG's NRA program.

• The agreement also calls for Red to meet specific provisions when it comes to hiring businesses to finish the construction of the project. According to the deal, of all the firms used by RED, 13 percent might be local businesses; nine percent must be minority-owned businesses and six percent must be women-owned businesses. Prevailing wages must also be paid. If RED does not adhere to all of those provisions, the UG could reduce the public financing cost by 10 percent.

The vote was unanimous.

For more information, check out these previous stories:

- http://www.kckansan.com/2012/04/wyandotte-plaza-cid-public-hearing-held.html

- http://www.kckansan.com/2012/05/vote-on-wyandotte-plaza-cid-postponed.html

Vote on Wyandotte Plaza CID postponed until May 17

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

The Unified Government Board of Commissioners were not able to approve the new Wyandotte Plaza community improvement district at tonight's meeting.

The Wyandotte Plaza CID would result in a new Price Chopper store and would replace the current store. Infrastructure improvements would also be made to the plaza, which is located at 78th Street and State Avenue.

However, Unified Government Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon said the item had to be moved to May 17.

"We're still in negotiations with the developer," Reardon said.

Under previously disclosed terms of the agreement, the project would cost $28 million to build. A one-percent CID sales tax would be added to items sold within the CID and Wyandotte Plaza.

Red Development LLC is the developer of the project.

Citizens were offered to make a comment during a public hearing session tonight. However, no one commented on the proposal.

Reardon said a third public hearing for the project - the first was held last month - will be conducted at the May 17 meeting.

Wyandotte Plaza CID public hearing held; to be discussed further on May 3

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com 

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 78^th 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. 

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.