The Muskegon City Commission voted Oct. 14 to establish a commercial redevelopment district for 431 East Laketon Avenue and to issue an eight-year commercial facilities exemption certificate to Gigi's Grill as the applicant seeks to convert a former church into a restaurant.

City development analyst Jocelyn Hines told commissioners the building had been tax-exempt as a church and the assessor assigned a taxable value of about $60,900. Under state law authorizing commercial facilities certificates, the exemption will freeze taxable value at the pre-development number; because the property is changing from tax-exempt to commercial use, the city expects an increase in property tax collections compared with the prior exemption status.

Applicant Luis, who identified himself as the operator of Gigi's Grill, told the commission he has been operating as a mobile vendor in Muskegon and plans to open a permanent location. Hines said the business expects to hire roughly seven to 10 servers and other staff at the restaurant.

The commission took the two related public hearings in sequence — first establishing the redevelopment district, then issuing the certificate — and received no public opposition in the in-person or phone comment periods. Commissioner Cochin moved to close the first hearing and approve the district; the motion carried on a roll call with all members present voting yes. Vice Mayor St. Clair moved to approve the eight-year commercial facilities exemption certificate; that motion also passed on a unanimous roll call vote.

The actions authorize the mayor and city clerk to sign the required resolution and certificate documents. Hines noted these incentives are commonly used to encourage private investment in redevelopment areas and that this site sits within a city redevelopment zone.

The city packet and Hines' presentation did not specify any additional conditions beyond those in the certificate and standard resolution. The commission recorded the roll-call votes as Yes from Commissioners Kilgore, German, Gorman, Cochin, Vice Mayor St. Clair and Mayor Johnson (motion passes).