Developers of a commercial center in Orion Township were denied a chance to establish an Industrial Development District by trustees on June 20.
Ashley Capital had wanted the district for its Orion Commerce Center, to be located on Silverbell Road across from the Eagle Valley Landfill.
Advantages of an IDD would have been the ability to entice tenants who would stay longer and offer more high paying jobs. Businesses could have qualified to apply to the township for a tax abatement.
Trustees had struggled with Ashley Capital’s request for most of the spring, postponing a decision three times.
Trustee John Steimel said he had no real reason for creating this industrial district. ‘I’m kind of neutral. I’ve never been convinced we had to have this.
‘I’m not in a big hurry to have more land developed. I see no reason to change.?
Trustee John Garlicki agreed with Steimel. ‘I don’t see any benefit to this township.?
Orion Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk wasn’t in favor of Ashley Capital’s request. ‘They’re saying if we don’t give out tax abatements, businesses won’t come here. I disagree. Plenty of businesses will come.?
At a meeting in May, trustees outlined a criteria that Ashley Capital had to follow.
Susan Harvey, Ashley Capital vice president of leasing and acquisitions in the Detroit area, told trustees at the June 20 meeting the criteria was ‘unachievable.
She said the criteria targeted business tenants of property, not the developer. ‘No real estate developer could ever qualify for state funding. Tenants could.? she added.
And there’s the ideal of bringing in better jobs. Harvey said that’s not a guarantee — the center’s a speculative building.