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Skokie board approves resolution to seek Cook County Class 6b tax incentive for Saint Louis Avenue redevelopment
Summary
The Village Board voted to authorize a Cook County Class 6b application for 8110–8130 Saint Louis Ave, clearing a municipal step that would reduce property taxes for up to 12 years to support Grace Packaging's planned $9.25 million redevelopment and a projected 30 new jobs.
The Village of Skokie board voted Aug. 4 to approve a resolution authorizing a Cook County Class 6b real estate tax incentive application for property at 8110–8130 Saint Louis Avenue, a step the developer says is needed for planned redevelopment.
The Class 6b designation would lower assessed value for the property during a 12-year period before returning to normal assessment, Village Manager John Lockerbie told the board. Titus Eppen, identified in the meeting as CEO of Grace Printing and the applicant for the project, plans to redevelop the roughly 153,000-square-foot site for a new business called Grace Packaging, which the applicant said will specialize in eco-friendly paper packaging products.
Lockerbie and Economic Vitality Manager Rod Tonale told trustees the applicant anticipates creating about 30 new jobs initially, with potential to grow to roughly 150 employees, and expects approximately $9,250,000 in acquisition, renovation, equipment and startup investment. Tonale said the incentive would apply only to the property being redeveloped, not to the applicant’s existing Grace Printing property in Skokie, and that taxes would still be collected but based on a reduced assessment during the incentive term.
The resolution authorizes the village to support the applicant’s submission to Cook County; Tonale explained the municipal approval is the first of two steps and that county review and approval is required afterward. Trustee Lisa Levy moved the resolution; Trustee Keith Robinson seconded. The clerk called the roll and Trustees Keith Robinson, Iverson, Lisa Levy, Schechter and Kimani Levy recorded “Aye.” The motion passed.
The board did not vote on the county application itself; Tonale said the county’s review is a separate step and he anticipated a positive outcome but noted that final approval rests with Cook County.
The resolution authorizes staff to proceed with the municipal portion of the Class 6b process and does not itself grant any tax abatement beyond the village’s endorsement of the county application.
