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Forest Park council OKs tax-incentive package to support Hillman Group’s Park 275 project
Summary
The council adopted ordinances creating a tax‑increment fund for the former Forest Fair Mall site and approving a CRA agreement expected to support a 715,000 sq. ft. Hillman Group facility, projected to secure more than 500 jobs and attract tens of millions in investment.
Council members voted to approve a pair of ordinances on March 2 that establish tax incentives for a large industrial redevelopment at the former Forest Fair Mall and authorize the city manager to sign related agreements.
Ordinance 02-2026 establishes a tax-increment-equivalent fund (TIF) for the project and authorizes tax-incentive agreements under Ohio Rev. Code §5709.40(B). Council discussion noted the TIF would exempt 100% of the value added by improvements for 30 years, with non‑ablated taxes collected as payments in lieu of taxes to fund public infrastructure; the measure passed 6–0.
Ordinance 03-2026 approves a community reinvestment area (CRA) agreement with Park 275 Development LLC that provides a 75% property tax abatement for 15 years for the new facility. Council Member Brown said the incentive supports the Hillman Group’s consolidation into a 715,000‑square‑foot facility and that the city expects the project to secure “over 500 jobs, 58 million in annual payroll, and 68 million in capital investment.” Brown urged adoption; the ordinance passed 7–0.
City staff and councilors said the TIF structure is intended to generate about $12.5 million over 30 years for project‑related infrastructure, and that local school districts will be fully compensated for any redirected property‑tax revenue, as stated at the meeting. The ordinances authorize the city manager to execute the incentive and development agreements and declare the measures an emergency so they take effect promptly.
What happens next: the city manager will execute the tax incentive and CRA documents authorized by the ordinances and staff will proceed with any implementation steps required by those agreements. Specific agreement text (including final payment‑in‑lieu schedules and project timelines) was not read at the meeting and is not specified in the public proceedings.
