Council advances Roosevelt Ridge TIF process after public hearing

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — City Council opened a public hearing on Aug. 5 to begin the statutory process to establish a 10‑year, 75% tax increment financing (TIF) incentive district for the Roosevelt Ridge development and authorized required notices to local taxing authorities.

Jacob Schulte of the Community and Economic Development Department described the TIF as a reimbursement mechanism for public infrastructure — sidewalks, curbs and street work — to support a roughly 20‑lot single‑family development on the former Roosevelt School site. The TIF would reimburse the developer or the construction manager at risk for infrastructure costs through future incremental property tax revenue generated inside the district.

Developer representative Philip (Phil) Bridal spoke briefly in support and said the group hoped to have lots available as early as spring of next year. Council took a straw vote that indicated support for moving the legislative process forward; Schulte said an ordinance creating the district will come before council for first reading on Sept. 2 and a second‑reading emergency vote is planned for Sept. 16.

The TIF hearing begins the required notice and public comment period; if council later votes to create the district, the city would then negotiate reimbursement agreements and related public‑infrastructure contracts. The Roosevelt Ridge proposal is separate from larger, more controversial proposals discussed later in the meeting and attracted limited public comment during the Aug. 5 session.