“I consider it a bailout.”
Beechtree Leasing is asking Grand Haven city council for a tax abatement worth nearly $640,000 to help them build a 45-unit apartment building on property they own at 1445 Columbus Avenue. And resident Mike Weavers is against it.
“They are not poor; they are not building affordable homes.”
During a public hearing on the request, assistant city manager Dana Kollewehr said the abatement freezes property taxes for 10 years and without it a consultant does not think the developer can go forward.
“Their conclusion is the project would not be feasible.”
There are currently two vacant commercial buildings on the property. Weavers, who is also in the real estate business, says he thinks Beechtree Leasing sees market rate apartments as potentially more profitable.
“All this is, we can make more money this way than this way if we get this bailout.”
City council will vote on the request at a future meeting. Weavers was the only speaker, and he says a city asking residents to pay higher taxes for public safety can’t afford tax breaks for market rate apartments.
“They are asking the citizens, who you are asking for a tax increase, to subsidize this project.”
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