Garden City DDA agrees to move forward with Fokker mixed‑use redevelopment; interlocal TIF talks to follow

The Garden City Downtown Development Authority voted Aug. 27 to support preliminary steps for a proposed four‑story mixed‑use redevelopment at the former Orange Jewelers site and to allow the developer to pursue tax increment financing through a brownfield plan and an interlocal agreement with the Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

The authority’s action authorizes staff and the developer to continue drafting a brownfield plan and the interlocal agreement that would let the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority capture tax increment revenue to reimburse eligible site costs. The motion was moved by Mayor Jacobs and supported by Trustee Berry; board discussion recorded the vote as passing with three yes votes and one abstention. The board emphasized the step is procedural — not final site‑plan approval and not a vote on exact financial terms.

Consultant Trudy Gala of Fishback and Associates told the board the proposal calls for demolition of three existing buildings…