Redevelopment commission declares 2711 West 37th Avenue blighted to allow possible purchase under proposed TIF

The Hobart City Redevelopment Commission voted to declare the property at 2711 West 37th Avenue owned by Regional Data Management LLC "blighted in an economic sense" under the RDC statute, a finding staff said is necessary to allow acquisition and redevelopment under a proposed tax-increment financing (TIF) district.

Staff summarized background including assessor values, Google Street View observations that the site (formerly a car wash) is being used to park commercial vehicles, and that appraisals are pending. Staff proposed specific motion language: "The determination that the property at 2711 West 37th Avenue owned by Regional Data Management LLC is blighted in an economic sense as stated in section 19.5 of the RDC statute." The staff member moved the motion and the commission seconded it.

Commissioners discussed process details: city staff are obtaining appraisals and title work before purchase; the RDC statute requires a willing seller and a finding of blight but does not itself define the term; the council, not the RDC, would hold eminent-domain authority if that were pursued. Staff said the proposed action is part of a larger plan to create a TIF district stretching along the Route 6 corridor, which could fund redevelopment and related acquisitions.

A motion to find the property blighted was made and seconded; the commission approved the motion on voice vote.

Next steps: staff will obtain final appraisals and title confirmation, and further actions will depend on appraisals, TIF boundary creation and any city council actions required to exercise additional authorities.