Council designates downtown site blighted, approves up to $678,500 in TIF assistance for Cary Toyota project

The Superior City Council on Aug. 5 voted to declare a downtown parcel blighted and authorized tax‑increment financing (TIF) assistance up to $678,500 to support a proposed redevelopment by Bridgeview Properties LLC, the entity working with Cary Toyota.

The council first approved a resolution identifying the property as blighted — a procedural step that the redevelopment authority recommended to allow use of TIF tools. Councilor Fennessy moved the blight resolution; Councilor Elm seconded it. The motion carried by voice vote.

Councilors then considered a resolution to provide contribution payments by the city in connection with tax increment grants in a maximum amount of $678,500 for the Bridgeview Properties LLC project. The motion to approve the TIF contribution was moved by Councilor Herrick and seconded by Councilor Elm; the motion carried.

At a public presentation, a representative for Cary Toyota (identified as Mr. Carey) described a multi‑million‑dollar project to build a new dealership at the former Manning Motel site. He said the current dealership buildings are aging and that the family business — present in Superior for multiple generations — seeks to invest in a roughly $13,000,000 project in the Billings Park area to build a new showroom and service facilities. Mr. Carey said the new site would house customer‑facing sales and service, while an existing downtown service shop on Tenth and Ogden would remain to provide additional service capacity.

City staff explained the mechanics of the proposed TIF assistance: the developer would pay the property taxes and the city would return a portion of the increment as an incentive on a “pay‑as‑you‑go” basis; in this case the administration described a 70% reimbursement of the increment to the developer, with 30% remaining in the TID for allowable public uses within one‑half mile of the district, as governed by state law. The mayor said the TIF could be used for public infrastructure projects near the district and would expand the city’s tax base once completed.

Council discussion touched on the TIF district’s financial health and potential neighborhood improvements. Councilor Liddy asked whether the project would be part of the current TIF (TIF 16); staff said it would. Mayor Payne said the project creates its own increment and that incentive payments come only after the developer makes the tax payments that generate increment.

Both resolutions passed by voice vote; the transcript records “Aye” and “motion carries.” Staff noted the redevelopment agreement and associated documents will be returned to the council with details and answers to technical questions about TID boundaries, payment schedules and public‑infrastructure uses.