Redevelopment commission declares 2711 West 37th Avenue "blighted" to pursue TIF-enabled acquisition

The Hobart Redevelopment Commission on March 16 voted to declare 2711 West 37th Avenue blighted under the RDC statute to allow the commission to pursue acquisition as part of a larger TIF-backed redevelopment strategy.

Attorney counsel explained the process for using RDC statute tools: because the owner has been identified as a willing seller, the commission can make a formal blight finding (the transcript cites section 19.5 of the RDC statute) and then proceed with appraisals and further acquisition steps. Counsel and staff said the city is working to obtain appraisals before any purchase is completed.

Staff described the parcel as a former car wash now used for commercial vehicle storage and said that, based on assessor values and site condition, it meets the economic-blight rationale the commission would need to find. Commissioners discussed the proposed TIF district boundary (not yet finalized), potential funding mechanisms (TIF borrowing or city support) and the limits of RDC authority (the commission itself does not have eminent-domain power; the city council would need to act on that authority if condemnation were pursued).

A motion was made to determine the property at 2711 West 37th Avenue, owned by Regional Data Management LLC, is blighted in an economic sense under the cited RDC statute; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Staff said next steps include finalizing appraisals, confirming TIF boundaries through the plan commission and coordinating with the city on funding and any legislative approvals needed. The commission noted this parcel is one part of a broader corridor strategy intended to revitalize neglected commercial areas.