Columbia Falls plans urban renewal

Run-down, dilapidated and empty buildings.

Sidewalks that are sunken and crooked. Weedy, empty lots.

All of these are signs of blight in Columbia Falls and the city hopes to do something about it in the coming years as it creates a tax increment finance district across most of the commercial properties in the city.

A tax increment financing district capitalizes on growth by taking the additional taxes from that growth and investing them in urban renewal projects such as street beautification.

For example, if a property is assessed at $50,000 when the district is created and its value increases to $100,000, the additional taxes on the property from the growth are invested into the tax-increment fund.

That money, in turn, can be used to combat blight.

Earlier this year the city crafted a document outlining the blighted areas of the city, most of which are up Nucleus Avenue and have either been vacant for years, such as the Davall Building, or have been used for storage, such as the former Park Merc.

Developer Mick Ruis recently purchased the above-mentioned buildings and there’s hope he will improve them soon.

Tax-increment money could be used to enhance whatever private investment he might make, such as attractive street lighting, improved sidewalks and other amenities.

The city has also created an urban renewal district that covers Nucleus Avenue and much of the U.S. 2 strip.

The city hopes to get some public feedback on the district and blight at its next meeting as it holds a public hearing on the district at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 in City Council Chambers.