Richmond Heights Council Takes Step to Condemn Properties for Menards Project

Monday night the Richmond Heights City Council took a step closer to finalizing a Menards store development in the southern section of the Hadley redevelopment area–the area south of Elinor Avenue and north of W. Bruno Avenue.

The council had the second reading of an ordinance to purchase the last remaining properties needed for the project through friendly condemnation.

“There’s about five properties they have title issues with,” City Manager Amy Hamilton said. “Five out of 80 is a very fair number, so they’re wanting the city to enact the power of property acquisition under Chapter 353.”

Hamilton said anyone can see the red line version of the changes before the final vote, which could occur at a budget workshop on April 29 or the council meeting on May 6.

Another piece of the project is approval of tax increment financing (TIF).

“Menards will not do the project if there is no TIF,” Hamilton said. The total project is about $63 million, and Menards is asking for a $15 million TIF.

The TIF commission will hold a public meeting on May 8 at The Heights at 7 p.m. Menards will make a presentation.

Hamilton said the commission will likely make a recommendation to city council for or against and the use of TIF in the project.

She said the city council will consider the commission’s recommendation at meetings in May and June. The city council has final say over to use a TIF or not.

Hamilton said if Menards can acquire all the properties by the fall, and the TIF is approved, demolition may begin by the end of this year.

“If the TIF is not approved, then they will walk away, and we will be back to square one,” Hamilton said.