Moving forward with a proposed plan, Galesburg city council will be ask to okay the creation of a business development district.The hotel developer will also being asking the city to help fund the $1.4 million in infrastructure costs. Its purpose is to bring more businesses and revenue to the city, but not everyone is on board.
Right now grass covers eight acres of land off of Seminary Street, but it could be filled with a business, that’s if city council approves the purposed plan.
54:10 "I think that the idea makes sense and we'll see how it goes,” says Galesburg Mayor, John Pritchard.
The plan is to create a business development district. There are talks of building retail businesses, Aldi grocery store and a hotel.
"I've always been against it,” says resident Antilla Nemeth, who lives right behind the field in the Costa neighborhood subdivision.
"It's going to be right next to my backyard,” says Nemeth.
The businesses are expected to bring around $200,000 every year to the city. The businesses in the designated area will be subject to 1% sales tax and 1% hotel/motel tax.
"It's a positive contribution to the general fund, it also contributes money to the school district, the junior college district, the people that benefit from our hotel/motel tax,” says Mayor Pritchard.
While some neighbors have their concerns, others think in the end it will help the city, "Galesburg needs to grow, but lets them make sure they take everybody's consideration into when they go to develop."
The district will not actually be created until there have been public notices.
