Marketing the U.S. 6/SR 13 technology park was the main topic of discussion of the Syracuse Redevelopment Commission meeting Tuesday.

Commission members are Henry DeJulia, Syracuse town manager: Paul Stoelting, Syracuse town councilman; Ernie Rogers, local realtor; Larry Siegel, Syracuse town councilman; and Dan Van Lue, local business owner; and Jim Evans, director of finance for the Wawasee Community School Corp. Evans is a non-voting member of the commission.

The commission reviewed a proposal from Myers Trust Real Estate of Elkhart for marketing the industrial/technology park. DeJulia said he thought the cost is very expensive when there is no guarantee Myers Trust could bring in a developer and is not offering national exposure. He felt some marketing could be done in-house.

DeJulia suggested the commission ask the town council for an amount of money to market the property for a year on its own.

Siegel said he wants the marketing of the park to have national exposure. Rogers suggested a co-op situation where the town would take care of the sale, but if another realtor comes in with a buyer, he or she would receive a percentage.

Evans asked what markets the commission has in mind for the park. DeJulia said upper end technology. He pointed out the University of Notre Dame has a high tech incubator the commission should consider partnering with as well as other schools and organizations in the area that have similar programs.

Stoelting pointed out the commission needs to be careful not to reinvent the wheel in marketing the park. “Sometimes you get what you pay for,” he said, explaining experience is good, but having contacts in the industry is also important.

DeJulia suggested putting up billboards on main north/south and east/west highways in the area. Siegel also suggested listing the site on several websites to get national exposure.

Rogers asked if there had been any inquiries into the park. DeJulia said not in the last month or so, but there have been serious inquiries made within the last six months.

Discussion turned to how the commission would sell the park which is shovel ready with utilities already available and whether offering a discounted price to the first company that wants to build in the park. After some conversation it was decided some more research be done on what price to set for selling the property.

The commission also looked at legislative changes to tax increment finance districts. TIF districts are now limited to 25 years. All of the Syracuse business district is in a TIF. DeJulia explained it is in three zones and brings in $33,364.73. There is also an Oakwood TIF, which has not brought in any money yet and the Benton Township TIF providing the town with $55,869.65. DeJulia said revenue may come down a bit due to lower assessed value.

The commission has to come up with a fiscal plan that needs to be done by July 1. DeJulia suggested the commission look at the proposed plan and suggest changes at the next meeting. The commission plans to meet sometime in May.