Council Discusses Tax Abatement for ‘Phase 2’ of Clifton Pointe

Lakewood City Council is considering a measure that could eventually extend the tax abatement for the Clifton Pointe development proposal to a second phase across from Sloane Subway.

Some neighbors of the proposed development shared a few of their concerns with council’s housing committee on Monday night.

“We’re not against the project,” said one neighbor, however, he added a few concerns including additional traffic and parking concerns.

Others shared concerns over the safety of pedestrians with the addition of new townhomes.

The committee may wait to see what the planning commission does first — with regard to zoning changes.

“I am not sure if this committee is going to pass something not knowing what the planning commission is going to do,” said Ward 1 councilman David Anderson, who is also the chairman housing committee. “Even thought that’s a totally different piece of paper. Is this concurrent or consecutive? In my mind it should be consecutive.”

At-large councilwoman Monique Smith called the project “one of the most highly publicized projects” in recent memory. 

As construction of the Clifton Pointe townhome development is well under way — and all 17 units are sold — Lakewood City Council is considering a measure that could extend the 10-year tax break to the second phase of development.

The current project on Sloane Avenue is already considered a but council must now decide whether to modify the proposal to include the parcels of land across Sloane Subway.

The distinction means that potential developments could qualify for tax abatements. 

“Abode has had such good success with selling Phase 1, and they’re interested in doubling down on their investment and doing a second phase,” Dru Siley, the city’s director of planning and development, recently told Lakewood Patch.

“The whole idea behind the CRA was to create incentives for riverfront development and so far we’ve had good success.”

The designation would waive property taxes on all new, residential units for up to 10 years, and offer abatements at 100 percent of property tax increases resulting from improvements made by the homeowner within that period.