Menards and Pace Properties Chosen to Develop Hadley in Richmond Heights

Menards and Pace Properties have been chosen to develop two sections of the Hadley Township Redevelopment Area in . City Council made the announcement during a meeting Monday at .

approximately 246,000 square feet in size. In addition, the development would include roughly 400 parking spaces and allow for the presence of three or four complementary retail businesses or restaurants at the southwest and northwest corners of the site.

The council voted 8-1 in favor of Menards. District 3 Councilman Ed Notter voted against the proposal.

approximately 150,000 square feet in size. The development also would include 750 parking spaces and a four-island, 16-position gas station.

Both have said they would bring hundreds of jobs to the city.

District 2 Councilman Jim Thomson said his vote reflects the businesses that expressed commitment to treating residents of Hadley objectively and with respect.

"I think it's a vote for taking people's homes," Thomson said. "… But sometime either tonight or in the future, redevelopment will come to that area."

District 3 Councilwoman Gina Mitten agreed with his comments about the treatment of residents.

"The reason for my vote is because I think it's more feasible given some of the issues that we have between the two sites," Mitten said. "And I also feel that the Menards proposal asked for significantly less taxpayer financing and city assistance, and that is a very big and important issue for me."

The council voted unanimously to pursue a proposal by Pace Properties, which has outlined just south of The Heights.

City Manager Amy Hamilton said the city will next fill out the necessary paperwork on the issue. It will then ask the city's Tax Increment Financing Commission to reconvene, consider the new projects and review related public assistance requests.

The process is expected to take about six months.

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