The Collinsville City Council entered into a redevelopment agreement with Westview Condos, on Ramada Boulevard, in Sept. 2009 to help finance a $3.2 million expansion. Nearly five years later, the project has yet to begin.

Collinsville City Hall / Photo by Roger Starkey

The current City Council voted unanimously Monday to give the developers an additional three years before work must begin on the project and four years before significant progress is required to be shown. The Sept. 28, 2009 agreement gave Westview Condos 75 percent of property tax revenue on the site for nine years.

The only terms of the agreement modified Monday were the commencement and significant completion dates. No reimbursements have been paid to the developer to date, Collinsville City Attorney Steve Giacoletto told the Council Monday.

Economic Development/TIF Director Erika Kennett, speaking before the Board on Monday, said the economic downturn caused the delay of the project intended to build 15 new condominiums on the north wing of the existing development. The developer will now have until Aug. 11, 2017 to begin work.

The City Council also voted unanimously to accept a gift of four houses that are set for demolition. Each house will be demolished as part of the City’s program designed to remove nuisance properties and sell the lots.

(see related story about the program)

When the City owns a lot on which a home has been demolished, it attempts to sell the lot, hoping the buyer will want to rebuild on the property. The city also hopes to recoup demolition costs – which are between $5-6,000, Community Development Director Mitch Bair said – and have a sale price at or above the assessed value. The Street Department usually preforms the demolition of the houses.

The City’s end goal is not necessarily to maximize profit on the demolitions. Providing peace of mind to the neighbors and getting the land back on the tax role are the city’s primary objectives, Bair told The Metro Independent in January.