TIF

St. John is moving forward with financial arrangements for its new Jewel-Osco store. The town council Wednesday agreed to issue economic development revenue bonds to help the developer upgrade the vacant Kmart building.

A Portage Township official worries the township could lose money, if the city of Portage creates TIF districts for housing developments.

"This will provide an incentive for the developer to continue with the great work he is doing to provide housing at the high level, also trying to make it accessible to those who are entering the housing market by allowing for contract payments," said Interim Town Manager Michael Griffin.

"And that increment we get over there, we could use to beautify this area right next to City Hall, this area to the south of us right next to City Hall, so this is vital," Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. told the city council last week.

The Valparaiso City Council has finalized financial arrangements for the Grand Gardner Hotel project.

Financial arrangements for the planned Grand Gardner Hotel are being finalized by the city of Valparaiso. Urschel Development plans to re-purpose the 1899 Gardner School that for decades housed the Boys & Girls Club into a 58-room hotel, bar and event venue.

The city of Portage is looking to spur development of some vacant land near I-94. The city council approved a resolution last week to split a few parcels out of an existing allocation area into their own separate TIF district.

Upgrades to Valparaiso's "Barrel District" are nearing completion. Valparaiso Development Director George Douglas told the city council Monday that Journeyman Distillery expects to take control of its property from its contractor by mid-September.

The Valparaiso City Council is supporting a measure that would allow for future incentives for a boutique hotel development. Urschel Development plans to convert the 1899 Gardner School that for decades housed the Boys & Girls Club into a 58-room Grand Gardner Hotel.

Downtown Valparaiso's Linc development is getting its own TIF district. The $37 million project will include three four-story apartment buildings with ground floor retail space facing Lincolnway.