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Redevelopment commission declares 2711 West 37th Avenue blighted, clears path for TIF-backed acquisition
Summary
The Hobart City Redevelopment Commission voted to find 2711 West 37th Avenue blighted under section 19.5 of the RDC statute, enabling appraisal and potential purchase using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) tools; the parcel is owned by Regional Data Management LLC and described in staff materials as a former car wash currently used for commercial vehicle storage.
The Hobart City Redevelopment Commission voted March 16 to declare the parcel at 2711 West 37th Avenue, owned by Regional Data Management LLC, "blighted in an economic sense" under section 19.5 of the RDC statute, a step staff said is necessary before pursuing appraisals and potential acquisition using a proposed TIF district.
An agency official advising the commission urged the finding as a procedural step, saying, "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." Counsel and staff said the owner is a willing seller and that appraisals are underway; the commission did not approve a purchase at the meeting.
Commissioners discussed how any acquisition would fit into a broader TIF plan for a corridor stretching down Route 6 and noted that the RDC itself does not hold eminent domain power. One committee member said the council holds eminent domain authority and any use of that tool would require legislative approval. Staff confirmed the city is working on appraisals and that a formal purchase would follow separate steps, including documentation of value and funding options.
Officials described the subject parcel as a former car wash currently used for commercial vehicle storage and said the property’s assessed value and visual condition informed the staff recommendation. The commission moved, seconded and approved the formal blight determination by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
What happens next: staff said appraisals will be completed and the commission will return with the valuation and any proposed terms for acquisition. Commissioners framed the action as one piece of a larger redevelopment strategy for a stretch of the city that has seen long-term underinvestment.
