News and Music Discovery
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Metropolis Mayor Reaches out for Retail Development Project

By Nyttend (Own work) [Public domain], Wikimedia commons
/
Wikimedia commons

Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel says he wants to bring a $50 million retail development project to his city, provided the deal doesn’t work out in Paducah. McCracken County officials have recently negotiated with St. Louis-based Sansone Group to bring the development to Paducah. However, Sansone’s asking for $3.5 million through a tax incremental financing agreement, something the city has repeatedly refused.

McDaniel says he’s reached out to the real estate company but acknowledges Metropolis is a relatively small market.

“But, we were certainly open to the idea of any kind of a retail proposal that they might want to put in our community," McDaniel said. "We left it at that.”

In regards to the ongoing Illinois state budget standstill, McDaniel says he’s been assured the city has funds to spare but still believes it could play a role. As the legislature works to hammer out a deal, local municipalities lose funding.

For example, Metropolis is home to a local casino that sends its gaming revenue into the state. Due to that freeze, the city won’t see a cent returned until a budget can be formed.

“There’s just barely enough air to breathe,” McDaniel said.

As for a potential build site, he says the city’s industrial park has more than 200 acres of space to go around.

Related Content