The next step in the effort to re-develop an industrial area of west Rock Island may be taken Monday night. The city council will be asked to approve the purchase of eight properties along 2nd Street, including the former Norcross - Servus Rubber plant.
The city would buy them, then establish a tax increment financing district, and sell the properties to a private developer.
The total purchase price is 275,000 dollars, including 265,000 just for the Norcross plant. It's been vacant since 2011 when the owner, Honeywell, closed it and moved its production to China.
The proposed tif district covers 57 acres, and Rock Island has hired Chicago consultants Kane, McKenna, and Associates to develop plans for the district. It would be in the area south of 6th Avenue and east of Mill Street and the Iowa Interstate Railroad.
