By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

New economic development in the city of Hays is at the top of a lengthy city commission work session agenda for Thursday.

In addition to two Community Improvement District requests by a group hoping to build an extended stay hotel near Home Depot, commissioners will also review a petition and application for a third 1% CID to incentivize a retail project in the same area of I-70 and Vine Street.

The project proposed by Hays Investors, LLC, differs however, in that the petition requests the district be created prior to the identification of a specific project, according to Hays Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood. “The CID would allow the developer to more aggressively market the property,” Wood explained.

The developer seeks incentives related to constructing approximately 73,000 square feet of retail space, to be located on approximately 9.1 acres at the northeast corner of I-70 and Vine Street and directly north of the Home Depot. The $13.6 million development is expected to consist of an approximately 50,000 square foot building to be used by a national retailer and another 23,000 square feet of retail space.

“At this point there hasn’t been any retailers that have been identified that would be going in the space,” Wood said, “so no big box store has been named but they are working to bring some stores in.”

If approved, the total sales tax within the CID would be 10.5%.

There will be a restriction in the development agreement that would dissolve the district if certificates of occupancy for 73,000 square feet of retail space are not issued within 36 months of approval of the CID. Also, the developer will not be allowed to request any other economic incentives as long as the CID is in place.

David Christie, manager of Hays Investors, is also a principal in Christie Development Associates, LLC, a Stilwell, Kansas based real estate development company.

The complete Oct. 20 city commission work session agenda may be seen here.