Hearing on quarter-cent tax hike at Golf Mill mall in Niles slated for Feb. 28

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:15AM

A public hearing on establishing a special district that would increase sales tax at Golf Mill Shopping Center will take place Feb. 28.

The proposal involves the village levying a sales-tax increase of .25 percent or 25 cents on a $100 purchase.

Finance Director Scot Neukirch said the village hasn’t established this type of special business district for at least 20 years, but has created TIF districts, which are similar.

The goal of establishing the special business district and increasing the sales tax is to create a 30,000-square-foot junior department store and a three-tenant building on Milwaukee Avenue with a fast-food drive-through next to the lot. It was estimated that $400,000 of additional revenue per year will be generated if the proposal is approved. The additional funds would also be used to fund various projects, involving sewer improvements, sidewalks, facade improvements and environmental initiatives.

In August, Mike Williams, general manager of Golf Mill, and Wendell Hollan, first vice president at CB Richard Ellis, approached the Niles Village Board of Trustees stating that they needed the village’s assistance in order to stay competitive with other shopping centers and be successful.

Williams said the plan is the same as presented to the board in August, but they have hired Houseal Lavigne Associates, the company that worked on the village’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan, to help with their presentation to ensure their plan is cohesive with the village-wide 2030 plan.

Some trustees have emphasized the importance of the plan coinciding with the comprehensive plan.

“We want to stay even with the competition and keep our shopping center the ‘crown jewel’ of Niles,” Williams said, adding that the village will also benefit financially.

Neukirch said a public hearing is required because it involves a business district.

Trustees recently approved a quarter-cent sales-tax increase in the village of Niles that will start in July. A hearing wasn’t required for that action.