Midtown residents press council for action as developer pitches hotel, water park and public‑private plan

Mayor John P. Nichols convened a long May 8 meeting that included a staff history of the Midtown/Rock Prairie area and more than two hours of public comment (and answers) about taxes, unfinished promises and development timelines.

Assistant City Manager Jennifer Paska walked the council through a decade‑plus chronology of planning tools used in the area — a medical‑district master plan, two tax increment districts (TIRZ/TIRs), an Economic Development Agreement (EDA) signed in 2015 and a municipal management district (MMD). Paska told council the city has constructed about $48 million in infrastructure in the area to date and that the EDA still requires the developer to build 150,000 square feet of non‑residential space before the city tax increment is released to cover a developer payment schedule through 2036.

“We have constructed $48 million worth of area infrastructure,” Paska said during the presentation. “The last remaining thing is 150,000 square feet of non‑residential mixed‑use development, and once that is complete the district receives annual contract payments of all city property tax increment until 2036.” (Staff presentation, SEG 1876–1922.)

Developer presentation and residents’ concerns

After staff finished, a representative described in the transcript as “Mr. Mur” disputed some staff characterizations and described the original planning and…