Williston denies two 2024 tax-abatement requests from Renaissance properties

The Williston Board of City Commissioners on Jan. 13 denied two tax-abatement applications for 2024 filed by entities associated with 'Renaissance' properties.

Kristi Gutierrez, Williams County commercial assessor, presented the first application from Renaissance Station LLC, which sought a valuation reduction from $837,790 to $675,000 (a requested reduction of $162,790). Gutierrez said the assessor's office had reduced value by 30% earlier because of the building's historic nature and layout; she said the applicant’s broker opinion of value relied on comparables outside the required time window and provided no evidence that the assessment was arbitrary or erroneous. Commissioners voted 5-0 to deny the abatement application.

Gutierrez then presented a second application from Renaissance on Main LP requesting a reduction from $6,416,670 to $5,000,000 (a requested reduction of $1,416,670). The assessor's office explained it valued residential units using income models and valued retail/office space on replacement cost less depreciation and trended with local sales; staff again said the applicant's broker opinion used mostly out-of-area comparables and relied on an income methodology inappropriate for retail/office valuation. The board denied the second abatement request 5-0.

No public comment or additional evidence was offered during either hearing. The denials are recorded as recommendations from the Board back to the assessor's process as provided in the meeting packet.