City officials consider redevelopment incentives for south side

Carson City expanded the size and scope of its south side redevelopment area earlier this year. Finding ways to make it an attractive location for businesses to set up will be the focus of city supervisors during their meeting today.

The officials, acting as the Redevelopment Authority, will develop an incentive program to draw more businesses to the south side.

"That retail corridor is going to be key to us as we build out," said Mayor Marv Teixeira. "We can't be as dependent on automobile sales as we are now."

Nearly one-third of the city's tax base comes from auto sales. Officials first sought to declare a portion of the south side as a redevelopment area to protect and enhance its auto sales revenue. It was expanded to roughly 250 parcels and more than 550 acres earlier this year.

The city also has a redevelopment area in its downtown. While these types of efforts to help improve the business climate have been successful downtown, the south side likely will need different strategies and techniques, said Joe McCarthy, the city's development and redevelopment manager.

South side redevelopment strategies "probably will need more flexibility because the projects will need more flexibility," he said.

The focus will be on drawing more large commercial businesses. Some examples of things the city could do include additional improvements along Curry Street, such as installation of traffic signals, and subsidizing new retail projects, McCarthy said.

Redevelopment allows any amount of tax money collected in excess of the assessed value of the area this year to be used in the future for a variety of improvements within that section of the city - such as streets, lighting and landscaping improvements to make the area more business-friendly.

This could also include enhancing job creation, or to attract or improve cultural, retail, educational and recreational amenities within the community. Any spending must be linked to economic improvement efforts within the redevelopment area. Up to $1 million could be collected within the first 10 years of the district's 30-year life.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at harbor @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

If you go

WHAT: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. today

WHERE: Sierra Room, Community Center, 851 E. William St.