EAST PALESTINE City OKs streets, curbs in Leslie Run

BY VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
EAST PALESTINE -- City council has made another move toward its plan to promote growth in the area.
On Monday, council agreed to pay N & amp;J Excavating of Hubbard $588,526 to install streets, curbs and utility lines in a portion of the new city-owned Leslie Run development. The plan is a 52-lot subdivision off Padgett Road on the southwest side of the city.
By the end of summer, as part of the first phase of the development project, N & amp;J is to have streets and utility lines installed for 29 lots. The next 23 lots will be included in the second phase of the project, said Gary Clark, city manager. He said city officials are hopeful the development will be completed within five years.
"It will take as long as it takes," he said. "But we're getting things going and hoping there will be people interested in building homes there."
Tax abatements
As an added incentive, last week council enacted an ordinance that allows property owners to apply for property tax abatements for residential, commercial and industrial properties. That means if an individual is interested in building a home in the Leslie Run development, or anywhere in the city, he could be eligible for a 100percent five-year tax break. The property owner will still have to pay taxes on the property, but he can receive an abatement on any new construction.
The new ordinance also provides various tax abatements for residential properties being remodeled and for new commercial and industrial properties and commercial and industrial properties being remodeled.