Council sets public hearing on Feb. 18 for commercial rehabilitation district at 31720 Van Born

The Wayne City Council voted to set a public hearing for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, to consider establishing a commercial rehabilitation district for the property known as 31720 Van Born.

City staff explained the state program allows a parcel of three acres or more to be designated a commercial rehabilitation district when a substantial rehabilitation occurs. Staff said the parcel at Van Born and Merriman — the former Willow Creek Assisted Living facility — has been boarded up and would be rehabilitated and repurposed as an indoor storage facility under the proposed plan.

The presenter said the owner expects significant improvements and that the commercial-rehab designation would freeze the property’s taxable value at its current level for a council-determined number of years while improvements are made; once the freeze period ends the owner would pay the full taxable value. Staff noted the state allows up to 12 years but the administration did not recommend the maximum and that the council would decide the appropriate freeze period if the district move proceeds after the hearing.

Council members described the broader area as undergoing redevelopment and said the item would be part of that transformation. The council unanimously approved setting the public hearing.

Why it matters: a commercial rehabilitation district can reduce short‑term property tax revenue to the city while encouraging redevelopment of a blighted or underused property; the council will hear public comment at the Feb. 18 meeting before any final action.

The discussion and vote occurred during the “general items” portion of the Feb. 4 meeting.