Douglas County commissioners to take up $75 million apartment complex tax request

The Douglas County Commission on Wednesday will decide whether to approve a tax incentive for a $75 million mixed-use apartment building to the east of Memorial Stadium.

The developers behind the project, HERE, LLC, is asking for a 12-year, 95 percent tax rebate. The request was already brought to the city government in early July, where in a 3-2 vote commissioners approved a 10-year, 85 percent tax rebate. The Lawrence school district will also consider the request at its Monday meeting.

The city’s decision to approve a reduced tax incentive may have already put the project in jeopardy. In June, Jim Heffernan, a principal with HERE, LLC, said an 85 percent rebate over 10 years could be “terminal” for the project. He declined to comment immediately after the city made its decision.

The building would include over 230 apartments and 13,000 square feet of retail space in a multi-story building. The targeted location is 1101 and 1115 Indiana streets, which currently houses Berkeley Flats, an apartment complex, and a private home.

Also under consideration Wednesday is a 10-year, 85 percent rebate for the rehabilitation of three historic structures and redeveloping the property of 1106 Rhode Island St. for office and rental-residential space.

The commission meets at 4 p.m. at the County Courthouse and will take up the tax incentive requests at 6:35 p.m.