Columbus City Council last night approved legislation declaring it intends to dissolve a tax abatement deal with the developer of a Short North project.
Council formally accepted the recommendations of the local Tax Incentive Review Council, which include dissolving the deal with Elford Development. The panel said the firm failed to create 23 of the 24 jobs promised at its development on North High Street in the Short North. Two other deals with Cloverleaf Cold Storage on New World Drive may be dissolved because the TIRC says the firm failed to report its job creation, retention and payroll numbers during the review. The food storage company got a ten year, seventy-five percent property tax abatement in 2013 to expand its local warehouse operations and create two new jobs.The company also got a ten year, seventy-five percent abatement in 2008 to build a refrigerated warehouse in Columbus. TIRC says the deals should be dissolved if responses are not submitted in 60 days. Columbus Development Director Steve Schoeny says related legislation on the three deals still need approval.
Council also approved a nearly 300 thousand dollar contract with a local firm to conduct a parking study and develop a strategic parking plan for Downtown, Franklinton, German Village, the Brewery District and the University District. Columbus parking services director Robert Ferrin says the study is expected to be implemented by the end of next year.
Changes to permit programs, parking rates and additional restrictions are possible. Ferrin says the study will include public input and notes a similar study of the Short North will be implemented in January.
