Antioch considers sales tax increase for retail development

Antioch is considering creating a special sales tax to help offset the cost of building Antioch Marketplace.

Developers with V-Land Corp. have requested a business district, which means sales tax at the stores in Antioch Marketplace would be a percentage point higher than the standard 6.5 percent. The higher tax would be charged in the district for up to 23 years.

"I don't want to do this, but if it helps salvage the project, then we need to look at it," Trustee Bob McCarty said. "If we take everything away from (developers) and they fail, what does that do for the community? It has got to be a partnership to make it work."

If the special sales tax plan is implemented, the extra money generated would go back to developer. Officials have not said how much money would be generated each year.

If built, Antioch Marketplace would be the village's largest retail development. The 600,000-square-foot shopping center is planned for the north side of Route 173 just west of Deep Lake Road.

The project faced a setback in December when Target Corp., one of the three anchor stores planned for the development, announced it would not open in Antioch and several other Chicago-area locations.

McCarty hopes a business district, which would be a first in Antioch, will entice Target officials to give the village a second look.

"We have a declining general balance and it is getting difficult to provide some of the nice amenities village residents are used to," McCarty said. "I hope V-Land and Antioch Marketplace can pick up the difference. If it fails before it starts, we've got nothing."

Target officials and Andrew Goodman, the development manager, could not be reached for comment Monday.

Trustee Dennis Crosby said he needs more information before making a decision on the sales tax increase and already has several concerns.

"It increases the amount of money people have to spend to buy things in town," he said.

"Also, it's an issue of creating a precedent. I'm not saying I don't support development, but we need to take a very hard look at this and understand the implications for taxpayers and future projects."