The Effingham City Council is considering replatting an apartment complex, so developers can benefit from incentives for the construction of new multi-family homes as the area’s housing shortage continues.
During the council’s meeting Tuesday, Effingham Economic Development Director Todd Hull and Effingham City Planner Greg Koester told council members about a request from the developers of Eastland Apartments, which is located just west of Gabby Goat American Pub & Grill, to remove a section of its property from one of the city’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts.
Hull explained that the property currently lies within both the boundaries of the Effingham/Effingham County Enterprise Zone and the city’s Central TIF District. Four apartment buildings have already been built there, but Eastland Apartments is looking to build more apartments there and would like to first make the property eligible for the incentives that are available in the Enterprise Zone.
“There is an additional piece to the west of that, off of Third Street, that they’re looking at to further develop. When those overlap, you cannot get the real estate tax abatement,” Hull said regarding the three-year tax abatement for the construction of new multi-family homes in the Enterprise Zone. “So they are requesting the city consider taking the property out of the TIF, so they would be able to get the Enterprise Zone benefits.
“They have indicated that they would start the project as soon as possible.”
Koester explained that the city could to separate the section Eastland Apartments is looking to develop from the rest of the property by subdividing the parcel it sits on.
“Basically, we’d run it through as a minor replat to carve out that portion along Third Street. That would be removed from the TIF. That way it’s its own taxing parcel,” Koester said.
Hull noted that unlike Enterprise Zone annexation requests, the city will not have to go through an application process with the state for this proposed replat.
The council did not take any action on the request to replat Eastland Apartments during the meeting, but council members will revisit the matter during their next meeting on April 16.
In other matters, the council voted to declare a property at 304 N. First St. to be dangerous and unsafe per the recommendation of Effingham City Attorney Tracy Willenborg.
“So this has been a nuisance property that we’ve dealt with for a while,” Willenborg said. “We cannot get the property cleaned up due to several reasons, including the judicial system and the defendant in itself.”
Additionally, she said that people have been residing on the property, and doors and windows there have been left open.
“Recently we’ve become aware of some other issues present on the property, not just exterior issues, but interior and some other dangers and unsafe issues as well as people living in the house when there has not been water utilities in excess of a year, and there have not been electric utility services in excess of a year,” Willenborg said.
According to Willenborg, the house on the property has already been foreclosed, and she unsuccessfully attempted to get in contact with the foreclosure attorney for the property.
“If the property is not remediated in the required time frame, we will file a suit,” Willenborg said.
Meanwhile, Effingham City Commissioner Libby Moeller announced that the statue commemorating the 75th anniversary of the St. Anthony Hospital fire arrived in Effingham Tuesday. The Effingham Retired Volunteer Firefighters Association spearheaded the project and raised the funds needed for the statue which depicts a nurse holding a newborn baby.
“It hasn’t been uncrated, so we haven’t seen it yet. But it is here,” Moeller said.
The unveiling ceremony for the statue will take place by the Healing Garden at HSHS St. Anthony Memorial Hospital and is scheduled for 2 p.m. on April 14.
Effingham City Commissioner Larry Micenheimer expressed his appreciation for all of those involved in the statue project. This includes the Effingham Retired Volunteer Firefighters Association, Moeller, and Jenn Alwardt who is the executive director of the Effingham Fire Department.
“People are excited about this,” Micenheimer said. “It was a team effort, and it’s something the community can be proud of.”
While providing their reports during the meeting, some members of the city’s staff reminded the council and the public about the total solar eclipse which will be visible in Effingham at approximately 2:03 p.m. Monday, April 8.
“There are a lot of events in the city of Effingham,” Effingham Tourism Director Jodi Thoele said. “We’re expecting a lot of people in the area, so just be aware of that.”
Effingham Fire Chief Brant Yochum warned of a “significant increase” in traffic in the area on the day of the eclipse.
“So just use caution,” Yochum said.
Additionally, Effingham Tourism Director Jodi Thoele directed the public to visit the city’s eclipse page online at visiteffinghamil.com/2024-eclipse/ for more information.