The City of Kenosha plans to use a common financing tool to pay the cost of raising a couple of empty gas stations.
One is located at 75th St. and 7th Ave. while the other is in the 3700 blk. of 52nd St.
The city's Plan Commission will be asked Thursday to authorize the first steps in creating small tax incremental financing districts to demolish the buildings with an eye toward paving the way for the properties' reuse. The 7th Ave. location could host some type of residential development, according to city development specialist Zohrab Khaligian, while the 52nd St. site will most likely remain commercially-zoned.
The removal projects will cost about a half-million dollars apiece, according to Plan Commission documents. If future uses don't generate enough new tax revenue to cover the costs, then revenue from other, successful TIDs would be tapped, he said.
Ownership of both sites were transferred to the city from the county after the properties were declared tax-delinquent. One positive, according to Khaligian, is that the previous owners had already pulled the fuel tanks from both sites.
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