—The Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole voted Thursday night to send City Council two downtown incentive requests for development projects on East 6th Street and South Main Street for a new restaurant and bar and offices for two businesses.
Community and Development Services Director Steve Bourne made the presentation and said incentives are for two separate projects that include the Young’s Hardware building on East 6th Street and the old JC Penney building on South Main Street, across from City Hall.
Bourne said the applicant, developer Hal McCoy, is requesting approval for an ad valorem tax and payroll tax incentives from the Downtown Incentives Policy.
He added the proposal is for a restaurant and bar that will include an outdoor seating area on the former property of Young’s Hardware.
The second project, at the old JC Penney’s building, would include two businesses – the Kentucky New Era and McCoy’s office.
In addition, Bourne noted a bid went out Thursday for the Poston/Massey lots, adjacent to the Young’s Hardware building, for a parking lot with about 27 parking spaces.
He also said the old pawn shop, which was purchased by the Local Development Corporation with the City’s assistance, is structurally not sound and will be torn down for about $43,000. He added they have proposed developing a pocket park.
Bourne stated the main reason the council decided to locate City Hall in downtown was to create an environment and attract private investment, which is needed to revitalize downtown because city government cannot do it alone.
He also pointed out these buildings are not going to be inexpensive to rehabilitate and there is a need for assistance with the costs, which is why the incentive packages are important.
After the presentation, Council member Amy Craig said this was exciting and thanked McCoy for making the investment in downtown to make it better.
