The common council approved a seven‑year real‑property tax abatement for Ameriplex Marquette JB LLC (Holiday Properties) to build a 54,000‑square‑foot speculative industrial building east of the existing Haskell building.

Councilman Mister Beatri introduced the resolution and described the project as an extension of the successful Holiday Property development; Clarence Hulse, director of the Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City (EDCMC), and Mike O’Connor of Holiday Properties answered council questions. Holiday Properties has previously built in Michigan City, the presentation said, and the proposed Aldridge Building would be a class‑A flex industrial multi‑tenant building with an estimated investment “over $5,000,000.” Council discussion noted Holiday’s record of using union labor on prior projects.

During public comment, a resident asked why the city provides 100% abatements and suggested the council consider smaller abatements given the city’s budget pressures. Councilman Brian Dabney explained how abatements work, saying the tax savings total about $256,000 over seven years for this project and that the city would receive full tax dollars after the abatement term expires.

The resolution passed by a vote of 7 in favor and 1 opposed (President Belinsky voted nay). Council members supporting the measure said the abatement would spur development on an existing industrial site and generate future tax revenue once the abatement term ends.

Why it matters: The approval aims to attract and retain industrial tenants and expand the city’s development footprint; however, some residents urged more conservative abatement terms given the city’s fiscal constraints.