TIF funds prove to be useful for Griffith
The town of Griffith was overwhelmed when the Redevelopment Commission purchased the Griffith Golf Center this week.
The Clerk – Treasurer, George Jerome, said that the deal was finalised as the Golf Center was acquired for a price of $500,000 on Friday.
The money used for the purchase of the Griffith Golf Centre is being regulated by the tax increment finance district, which was formed by the Commission after it made the 50 acre site a part
of the redevelopment area five years ago.
Bob Farag saw potential in the town and utilised the open spaces, evolving them into business centers.
In a statement Jerome said: “Unfortunately, the previous owner and developers were never able to reach agreement and the site became available to the commission several months ago.
"There are no specific plans for the immediate use of the land, but by owning it the town controls what goes there in the future”.
The Clerk-Treasurer went on to say that the funds from the TIF could prove to be very useful as they will help in developing roads and other things in an effort to change the infrastructure
of the place.
The golf course has been vacant since five years now and it was getting tougher to operate the course at the local and the higher level.
The local people and the representatives of the people are highly exited over the prospect.
The Town Councilwoman, Patricia Schaadt said: “As the exec for the Griffith Chamber of Commerce, I received multiple calls asking for a hotel or motel in Griffith”.
To, who is Jerome’s brother and was once a part of the commission said that he still imagines a UPS facility and could join three separate facilities into a centralised location.
He said that this could lead to a an easy access to the interstates, the tubes and the Gary-Chicago Airport.
The Vice President of the Town Council, Rick Ryfa appreciated the work being done by the commission. In a statement he said that the Redevelopment and Eco Development Commissions alongside
the town will work with any developer who gives a suitable proposition to minimise the red tape.
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