Council approves TIF for Chamber Building redevelopment, creating downtown one-bedroom units

The Grand Island City Council approved a tax-increment financing request on Dec. 30 to support redevelopment of the Chamber Building at 309 West 2nd Street.

Planner Mr. Navidy told the council the project would create eight one‑bedroom apartments on the second floor and two accessible one‑bedroom units on the first floor (the first-floor units are required for accessibility because installing an elevator was not practical). The applicants plan the front two spaces on the first floor for commercial offices and estimate a total investment of about $2 million, with the developers requesting $609,000 in TIF over 20 years.

Mr. Navidy said planning staff, the planning commission and the Community Redevelopment Authority recommended approval. Amos Anson, who assisted the applicants with the application, told council the units would range roughly 600 to 800 square feet and that downtown rent targets were approximately $1,200 for a new one-bedroom unit.

Council moved and approved resolution 2025-436 to advance the project; contracts will be drawn up following that approval. Council members noted prior façade funding of $290,000 to the building from the CRA in 2022 and said repurposing underused space downtown was beneficial to the community.

The administration said life-safety and accessibility improvements (including a life safety grant of about $120,000 referenced in the packet) would accompany the redevelopment.

With approval, staff will proceed to draft contracts and return for implementation steps.