The Benton Township Board of Trustees has approved an updated tax break for the Tommy’s Express car wash planned for the site of the former Rite Aid at Napier Avenue and M-139.
The board in May granted a 12-year Commercial Facilities Tax Exemption for Tommy’s Express Car Wash to locate at the property. However, it heard Tuesday from Cornerstone Alliance’s Zachary Vaughn there’s been a hiccup at the state level. Vaughn said it turns out Commercial Facilities Tax Exemptions can only be granted in cities and villages, not townships.
Cornerstone was back to ask for a Commercial Rehabilitation Tax Exemption instead. So, what’s that?
“That is a one to ten year tax abatement for this project here,” Vaughn said. “That freezes the property tax of the site for the duration of that time of one to ten years.”
The previously-approved tax break would have given Tommy’s a 50% reduction of its property taxes for 12 years. Vaughn said he hopes this new tax exemption will be enough of an incentive for Tommy’s to move forward.
“Now that will be what I would assume is a step in the right direction from a financial standpoint for Tommy’s Express as they are looking to not only demolish the existing site and rebuild a new facility at that site there.”
Township trustees approved the new Commercial Rehabilitation Tax Exemption for the project.
The plan is for Tommy’s to demolish the old Rite Aid starting in October.
Trustees were told in May that Tommy’s Express is a premium car wash experience that averages about 200,000 car washes per year, per location. The company was planning to invest $5.2 million in its Benton Township location.
