From the Indianapolis Star:
A City-County Council committee today moved to restart discussions about a stalled tax-increment financing district that could help attract a grocery and other businesses to the redeveloping Avondale Meadows area.
The Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee had voted along party lines to table the proposal in January. That led to a partisan fight over how best to attract a grocery story to the area, near 38th Street and Keystone Avenue, with Democrats pushing unsuccessfully to tap $3 million from the city’s RebuildIndy road work-and-infrastructure fund instead.
Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican, has said he favors a TIF district. A TIF district generally captures the growing portion of property taxes within its boundaries as the tax base expands so the city can spend the proceeds on efforts that support new development.
During a meeting this evening, Democrat Pam Hickman told the committee that she would lead a 60-day review of the TIF district idea, aimed at addressing what some see as shortcomings in the original proposal.
She said she would meet with Republican Christine Scales, the original sponsor, after committee Chairman Leroy Robinson suggested they discuss the issue. The committee unanimously voted to keep the proposal alive and set a new hearing on the proposal for Aug. 26.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013306170073
