Planning commission approves TIF district to support North La Crosse redevelopment, police precinct and possible Luna Avenue extension

The Rapid City Planning Commission on July 24 approved creation of a tax increment financing (TIF) district and an associated project plan (option 2) intended to spur redevelopment near North La Crosse Street and to help fund a future north-side police precinct.

Finance staff said the proposed district centers on 1902 North La Crosse and adjacent parcels and would support a private developer’s plan to demolish existing structures and construct four restaurant buildings and one commercial retail building. Staff identified three confirmed tenants in presentations and subsequent public remarks: Chick‑fil‑A, Panda Express and Chipotle; the retail space is intended for Les Schwab Tire; a fourth restaurant site is listed as to-be-determined. Estimated construction costs presented were just over $27 million. The developer’s (AAM Rapid City / Allred USA parent) TIF request was about $5.1 million with interest under option 1.

The city would be a second “developer” in the project plan to partially reimburse acquisition and renovation of 120 (address listed as 120 Nowhere Drive in the staff presentation) for a proposed north-side police precinct; staff indicated a $1.8 million purchase price and requested up to $1.15 million of TIF support for that component under option 1. With the originally submitted…