Commissioners okay Forest Park annexation

Wednesday's Board of County Commissioners vote may help Forest Park redevelop an underperforming retail site.

The Commissioners voted unanimously to grant a petition for the annexation into the city of 1.226 acres of adjacent city-owned land.

The land, which is at 2245 Sevenhills Drive in Springfield Township, is part of a four-acre shopping center that the city purchased for $725,000 earlier this year.

The justification for the annexation is that Forest Park wants to market the combined site to developers and would prefer for the development to be done under one set of rules and regulations instead of two.

City officials see this site as an opportunity for a gateway project that will help spur other redevelopment of the Hamilton Avenue corridor.

Ideas have even been floated about combining the Kmart property with the Thriftway property (across Waycross Road) for an even more massive project. Funding for the infrastructure and site improvements would come from the creation of a TIF district.

Currently, there is no timetable for a decision. The city is currently working on a comprehensive plan for the site.

In the April 18, 2007 Hilltop Press, City Manager Ray Hodges mentioned that we might see the demolition of the Kmart building in September.

Further information, including maps:
BC: Forest Park: Kmart redevelopment (5/23/07)