HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated February 24, 2026ITEM #:15
DATE:02-24-26
DEPT:P&H
SUBJECT:APPLICATION FOR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT AND MINIMUM
ASSESSMENT AGREEMENT AT 329 SOUTHEAST 5TH STREET
(FURNITURE MART)
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
Last year, City Council approved an Ordinance creating an Urban Revitalization Area for
property located at 329 Southeast 5th Street and 320 South Duff Avenue (See Attachment A-
Location Map). The purpose of the creation of the Urban Revitalization Area was to incentivize
Furniture Mart USA to construct a new building by providing Tax Abatement of the value of
their new retail store at 329 Southeast 5th Street (See Attachment B- Urban Revitalization
Plan).
Furniture Mart has completed construction of their new retail store and has applied to receive
Property Tax Abatement from the City Council as required in the Urban Revitalization Plan. In
conjunction with the application for certification of compliance, Furniture Mart is required under
State law to have a Minimum Assessment Agreement approved by the City Council order to
set the agreed upon assessed value of the building to be applied to the abatement (See
Attachment C-Minimum Assessment Agreement and Application).
The applicant initially described an investment value of $7 million for the store when first
requesting the tax abatement incentive. The proposed minimum assessment agreement is
based upon a minimum value of $7 million. The developer in their application for tax
abatement notes that the actual building permit valuation was $9 million. The City Assessor is
yet to assign a value to the property, but has independently reviewed the proposed minimum
assessment based on the valuation of the new Furniture Mart store and agrees that the $7
million value is a reasonable valuation. Approval of the Property Tax Abatement
Application and Minimum Assessment Agreement will allow the City Assessor to
formally sign off on the certification of value and allow Furniture Mart to receive
property tax abatement for five years on a sliding scale consistent with the URA.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the minimum assessment agreement and application for a five year partial
property tax abatement for Furniture Mart USA at 329 Southeast 5th Street.
2. Direct staff to modify the minimum assessment agreement and conditionally approve the
request for a five year partial property tax abatement for Furniture Mart USA.
3. Deny the application for tax abatement by finding that the application is not consistent
with the Urban Revitalization Plan.
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CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Furniture Mart completed construction of the store in November. The building and use
are consistent with the minimum parameters of the Urban Revitalization Plan. Furniture
Mart has completed an application for Property Tax Abatement and a Minimum
Assessment Agreement has been drafted and agreed to between City staff and
Furniture Mart representatives based on the requirements of the Urban Revitalization
Plan.
This tax abatement incentive was instrumental in enticing the construction of a
furniture store in Ames which addresses a known sales tax leakage
c a t e g o r y. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council
approve Alternative No. 1.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment A-Location Map.pdf
Attachment B- URA Plan Adopted.pdf
Attachment C-Tax Abatement Application.pdf
Attachment C- Minimum Assessment Agreement.pdf
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S DUFF AVE
SE 5TH ST
SE 3RD STS 3RD ST
S 5TH ST
329 Southea st 5th Street URA (Sha de d)´
Southeast 5th Street URA (Shaded)
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URBAN REVITALIZATION PLAN SOUTHEAST 5th STREET
Iowa Code 404 allows for a City to address revitalization needs of the community through
a process of designating revitalization areas. The purpose for revitalization includes
economic development. The primary purpose of the plan is to meet economic development
goals of the City Council for this area of City that is planned for commercial development
provide a partial property abatement incentive for qualified real estate that is consistent
with the criteria of the approved plan related to new construction of a retail furniture store.
The portion of the Act codified at Section 404.1 of the Iowa Code provides that the City
Council may, by ordinance, designate an area of the city as a revitalization area, specifically
in subsection (4) for economic development.
The following is the Urban Revitalization Plan for the Southeast 5th Street Urban
Revitalization Area. The plan contents are defined by Code of Iowa Section 404.2(2) and
are provided below.
a) Legal Description: SECTION:11 TOWNSHIP:83 RANGE:24 PARCEL AG S1/2 NE
SLIDE 269 PG 5 AMES AND TARGET ADDITION LOTS 2 & 3
b) Existing Valuations:
Address Parcel
Identification
Number
Owner Assessed
Valuation
Land
Assessed
Valuation
Buildings
329 SE 5th Street 0911275100 Furn USA IA
LLC
$504,000 $0
320 South Duff
Avenue
0911210020 Dayton Hudson
Corporation
$4,649,500 $7,581,800
c) Owners and Addresses:
Address Parcel
Identification
Number
Owner Owner Address
329 SE 5th Street 0911275100 Furn USA IA
LLC
140 E Hinks Ln,
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
320 South Duff
Avenue
0911210020 Dayton Hudson
Corporation
Dayton Hudson
Corporation, PO Box
9456 Minneapolis, MN
55440
d) Existing & Proposed Land Use:
Address Existing Zoning Existing
Land Use
Proposed Land Use
329 SE 5th Street Commercial-HOC Vacant Commercial
320 South Duff
Avenue
Commercial-HOC Commercial Commercial
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URA District Boundaries
e) City Services: City services are already available to the area. No improvement or
expansions of City services are proposed by the City for the area.
f) Applicability of Revitalization: Revitalization shall be applicable only to that
subset of eligible property within the above legal description zoned commercial and
are otherwise Qualified Real Estate for new construction of a building that meets
the Qualifying Eligibility Criteria of this Plan.
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g) Relocation: The plan does not require the displacement of any persons, and there
will be no relocation benefits provided.
h) Tax Exemption Schedule: The exemption period is for five (5) years per a sliding
scale of abatement of improvement value as Year 1-100%; Year 2-80%; Year 3 -
60%; Year 4- 40 %; Year 5 -20%.
i) Percent Increase in Value Required: The value-added requirement is a fifteen
(15) percent increase in actual value.
j) Federal, State, or Private Grant/Loan Programs for Residential Improvements:
There are no residential improvements proposed.
k) Duration: The Plan shall expire on April 1, 2027. All projects seeking tax
abatement approval consistent with this Plan must be completed by December 31,
2026 and have filed an application with the Planning and Housing Department by
February 1, 2027. Any project approved for tax abatement as being consistent
with this Plan prior to the expiration of the Plan will continue to receive property
tax abatement per the approved exemption schedule in accordance with state law.
Additional Qualifying Criteria
In order to be determined to be Qualified Real Estate the improvements must be in
compliance with these additional Criteria during the life of the tax abatement.
1. A furniture store building of at least 90,000 square feet. For purposes of a meeting
the definition as a furniture store, a minimum 81,000 square feet of the gross floor
area must be used for the display and sale of new furniture, home furnishings and
related items.
2. The building must conform to an approved Site Development Plan, including any
approved landscape plan (reso. #____ , and have received a certificate of occupancy
from the City of Ames prior to December 31, 2026.
3. A building permit must be issued for the project by the City of Ames prior to
December 31, 2025.
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