Hobart RDC declares 2711 West 37th Avenue blighted to enable potential TIF purchase

The Hobart Redevelopment Commission voted March 16 to declare the property at 2711 West 37th Avenue economically blighted under the RDC statute, a procedural step the city’s redevelopment staff and counsel said is needed before pursuing purchase and redevelopment as part of a proposed tax-increment financing (TIF) district.

Staff and counsel (speaker 7) told commissioners the owner of the parcel, Regional Data Management LLC, is a willing seller and that the commission must find the parcel blighted under the statute before it may proceed to negotiate purchase terms and obtain appraisals. As counsel recommended, the motion’s wording stated the commission’s determination that the property "is blighted in an economic sense as stated in section 19.5 of the RDC statute." The commission moved, seconded and approved that determination.

Speakers clarified the RDC itself does not have the power of eminent domain (the city council does) and that the parcel would be considered as part of a larger TIF strategy covering a corridor stretching toward Route 6. Counsel and staff said appraisals and a title report are still pending; staff emphasized this vote does not obligate the RDC to purchase the property immediately but establishes the statutory finding needed to proceed with due diligence and potential acquisition under TIF financing.

Next steps identified by staff include completing appraisals and title work, confirming financing options (including the proposed TIF), and returning to the commission with purchase documents if negotiations proceed.