KEY ACTION: Approved extending a tax abatement agreement.
DISCUSSION: The most-recent extension of the 49% 12-year abatement was to have seen the project completed by December 2020. Historic Schilling sought an additional extension to December 2022 to complete the renovation of the second floor of the former Metzger Hardware building at 204 E. Main St. Citing the COVID-19 related downturn of the business climate, the developer was unable to meet that deadline with the intention of developing loft apartments in the downtown area.
Council acted as the now-defunct Board of Control, since that entity was disbanded with the November election passage of the revised City Charter. According to City Manager Larry Collins, that board was utilized to effect the initial abatement, and any changes to it must be done by the same body. The board also will act on the abatement for Unhitched, both of which must be acted upon by the Stark County Tax Commission.