{"id":570,"date":"2008-04-29T23:00:52","date_gmt":"2008-04-30T03:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=570"},"modified":"2025-10-23T13:53:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T17:53:50","slug":"city-council-tax-abatement-discussion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2008\/04\/29\/city-council-tax-abatement-discussion\/","title":{"rendered":"City Council Tax Abatement Discussion"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/04\/City_Council.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"439\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-126601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/04\/City_Council.jpg 800w, https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/04\/City_Council-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/04\/City_Council-768x421.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/04\/City_Council-150x82.jpg 150w, https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/04\/City_Council-696x382.jpg 696w, https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/04\/City_Council-765x420.jpg 765w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Fort Wayne City Council met tonight.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Since it was a Fifth Tuesday, Councilman Tom Smith revived an old tradition by arranging a Tax Abatement Discussion with City and County Officials. At the beginning of the meeting, Smith pointed out that the last time the Council met on a Fifth Tuesday was December, 2005. The hot topic that night was moving the potential new hotel\u00a0to the block containing Cindy&#8217;s Diner. The move eventually went back to square one &#8211; the Belmont Beverage location in Harrison Square. &#8220;How far we&#8217;ve come!&#8221; Smith quipped.<\/p>\n<p>The discussion was led by Elissa McGauley, Economic Development Manager for the City, Greg Leatherman, Executive Director of the City&#8217;s Redevelopment Department, Mark Royse, Deputy Director for the County&#8217;s Economic Development Department. You may listen to the discussion here:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/04\/sound_clip.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-126603\" \/>April 29, 2008 City Council Tax Abatement Discussion<\/p>\n<p>One of the points made, which at first struck me as &#8220;spin&#8221; was that a common misconception or misstatement about tax abatements is that the City is giving money to companies. The exact opposite is the case. Taxes are phased in on an investment. In other words, the first year after an investment, the company pays 0 in taxes for the investment. The second year, they pay 10 percent, the third year 20 percent and so on up until the start of the 11th year mark where the abatement zeroes out and the company pays full taxes on it. You need to consider the companies risk in the investment they have made, including costs and even interest a company pays for loans to make the investment.<\/p>\n<p>The session was educational, but brought up some other points to ponder including differences between what the City and County may offer, how the City and County each figure if an abatement is possible, and even that the City can give retail abatements while the County cannot.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Harrison Square<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Greg Leatherman also reported that the City has received the Tax Abatement application for the Courtyard By Marriott Hotel to be built as part of Harrison Square. No other details were released.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Related Images:<\/h3><div class=\"ngg-related-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/70496.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Jim Irwin, Barry Real Estate, leads a tour of Redevelopment Authority and Commission members around the Parkview Field. Photo taken February 16, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"71\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/70496.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/thumbs\/thumbs_70496.jpg\" data-title=\"Jim Irwin leads a tour of Parkview Field\" data-description=\"Jim Irwin, Barry Real Estate, leads a tour of Redevelopment Authority and Commission members around the Parkview Field. Photo taken February 16, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Jim Irwin leads a tour of Parkview Field\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Jim Irwin leads a tour of Parkview Field\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"71\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/thumbs\/thumbs_70496.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/70629.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission: Casey Cox, Thom Obergfell (partially obscured), Judi Wire, Christopher Guerin, Steve McElhoe, Steve Corona, Greg Leatherman and Attorney John Wernet. Photo taken February 16, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"72\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/70629.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/thumbs\/thumbs_70629.jpg\" data-title=\"Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission at Parkview Field\" data-description=\"The Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission: Casey Cox, Thom Obergfell (partially obscured), Judi Wire, Christopher Guerin, Steve McElhoe, Steve Corona, Greg Leatherman and Attorney John Wernet. Photo taken February 16, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission at Parkview Field\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission at Parkview Field\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"72\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/thumbs\/thumbs_70629.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/70636.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission and Authority meet at Parkview Field in Harrison Square. Photo taken February 16th 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"73\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/70636.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/thumbs\/thumbs_70636.jpg\" data-title=\"Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission at Parkview Field\" data-description=\"The Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission and Authority meet at Parkview Field in Harrison Square. Photo taken February 16th 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission at Parkview Field\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission at Parkview Field\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"73\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fw-redevelopment\/thumbs\/thumbs_70636.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71709.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Mayor Tom Henry announces call for referendum vote on the gaming issue during a press conference on February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"199\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71709.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71709.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry\" data-description=\"Mayor Tom Henry announces call for referendum vote on the gaming issue during a press conference on February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"199\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71709.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71710.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Mayor Tom Henry shakes hands with Allen County Councilman Paul Moss after the press conference announcing his decision to seek a referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"200\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71710.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71710.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Mayor Tom Henry shakes hands with Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\" data-description=\"Mayor Tom Henry shakes hands with Allen County Councilman Paul Moss after the press conference announcing his decision to seek a referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Mayor Tom Henry shakes hands with Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Mayor Tom Henry shakes hands with Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"200\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71710.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71712.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Fort Wayne City Council President Tom Smith makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"201\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71712.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71712.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Council President Tom Smith\" data-description=\"Fort Wayne City Council President Tom Smith makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Council President Tom Smith\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Council President Tom Smith\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"201\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71712.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71714.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"City Councilman Tim Pape makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"202\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71714.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71714.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Councilman Tim Pape\" data-description=\"City Councilman Tim Pape makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Councilman Tim Pape\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Councilman Tim Pape\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"202\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71714.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71715.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Allen County Councilman Paul Moss makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"203\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71715.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71715.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\" data-description=\"Allen County Councilman Paul Moss makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"203\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71715.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/08887.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street which was demolished to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"1290\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/08887.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_08887.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street which was demolished to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1290\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_08887.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09393.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"1291\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09393.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09393.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1291\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09393.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09398.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"1292\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09398.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09398.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1292\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09398.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09399.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"1293\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09399.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09399.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1293\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09399.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09400.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"1294\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09400.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09400.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1294\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09400.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09836.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"1295\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09836.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09836.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1295\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09836.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09837.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='c71ef305202d39a0a44a076c64a368fd' data-image-id=\"1296\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09837.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09837.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1296\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09837.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Fort Wayne City Council met tonight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":126601,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28452,236],"tags":[28,2636,54,351,15,133,108,16,352,257],"class_list":["post-570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-afw-city-council-coverage","category-fort-wayne-city-council","tag-belmont-beverage","tag-cindys-diner","tag-courtyard-fort-wayne-downtown-at-grand-wayne-convention-center","tag-elissa-mcgauley","tag-fort-wayne-city-council-2","tag-fort-wayne-city-councilman-tom-smith","tag-greg-leatherman","tag-harrison-square","tag-mark-royse","tag-tax-abatements"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>City Council Tax Abatement Discussion - AroundFortWayne<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Fort Wayne City Council met tonight.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2008\/04\/29\/city-council-tax-abatement-discussion\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"City Council Tax Abatement Discussion - AroundFortWayne\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Fort Wayne City Council met tonight.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2008\/04\/29\/city-council-tax-abatement-discussion\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AroundFortWayne\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AroundFortWayne\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2008-04-30T03:00:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta 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