Organization

Blackman Township officials moving ahead with plans to bring businesses to DDA District

Blackman Township officials moving ahead with plans to bring businesses to Downtown Development Authority District
By Keith Roberts
Jackson Citizen Patriot
Thursday, July 15, 2010

Blackman Township officials are moving ahead with plans to bring businesses to their Downtown Development Authority District with or without Ramco-Gershenson.

The township is seeking to issue $3.5 million in economic development bonds to buy about 28 acres north of I-94 and west of U.S. 127. Blackman Township Supervisor Robert Rando, who is chairman of the DDA, said buying the land will help Ramco-Gershenson or another company develop the site faster.

Share “I want to see it right now,” Rando said.

Ramco-Gershenson, which owns Jackson Crossing, proposed putting an upscale, open-air shopping mall on the site in 2006, but has put those plans on hold to focus on developments that could offer a quicker return.

The township has been trying to buy the land from the North family and went to Circuit Court to determine its value. The North family owned what was the Holiday Inn of Jackson along U.S. 127 and land surrounding it. The hotel is now the Avalon Hotel and Conference Center.

Attorney Eric White, who represents the township, said the parties recently reached a $3.5 million settlement that covers the purchase of the property and the court costs.

The township is seeking authorization from Jackson County to issue the bonds. The county was allotted $11.5 million in bonds through the Recovery Zone Bond Program, part of the federal stimulus plan intended to help public entities pay for improvement projects.

Rando said the township would pay off the bonds over 20 years with taxes captured from the Downtown Development Authority District. This just gives us another tool, Rando said.

Steve Shotwell, chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners and a DDA member, expects the county board to authorize the bond issue next week.

Everyone seems to see the purpose and understand the reason to go forward, Shotwell said.

In March the county board authorized Jackson Public Schools to issue $7.4 million in economic development bonds to renovate school buildings and grounds.

Shotwell said county officials have stayed in touch with Ramco-Gershenson and the company is still interested in the development but would like the township to resolve the property issues first.

NOTE: The Enterprise Group of Jackson provides staffing services to the Blackman DDA.