Beach Park plans 2 more TIF districts

BEACH PARK -- Encouraged by the success of its first tax-increment finance district, the Village Board has decided to launch two more and extend the first.

At last week's meeting, the board awarded a contract to Camiros Ltd. of Chicago to provide services for TIF eligibility studies.

Camiros was the lowest bidder at $20,000. Competing firms included Rolf Campbell & Associates of Green Oaks and S.B. Friedman of Chicago.

Nick Narducci, the village's finance consultant, recommended establishing the additional TIF districts, including one at Green Bay and Wadsworth roads and at Lewis Avenue and Wadsworth Road.

The current TIF district, at the northern border of town on Sheridan Road and Ames Avenue, would be extended to include the east and west sides of Sheridan Road and continue to the southernmost border of Beach Park, south of York House Road.

Mayor Milt Jensen said the current TIF district helped bring the new CVS pharmacy to the corner of Wadsworth and Sheridan and Anna's Marketplace, a car wash/gas station/convenience store, south of Wadsworth Road. CVS is expected to open in December and Anna's Marketplace within the next month, Jensen said.

The TIF district also helped faí§ade improvement programs.

Narducci said there is nearly $71,000 remaining from unspent TIF funds.

Among the businesses the mayor said he would like to see in town are a restaurant with dinner service and a grocery store.

"I think you'll probably see a grocery store in the area of Lewis and Wadsworth, or you might see it at Green Bay and Wadsworth. But either way, I think you'll see one," Jensen said.

Jensen said the village is not actively seeking industry "because that brings us no sales tax."