The owners of the Boardwalk Grille will be responsible for paying property taxes on the building and contents, but the land belonging to the city of Orange will be exempt from the taxes.
City Economic Development Director Jay Trahan gave that information to the Orange City Council Tuesday before the council gave final approval for the future riverfront restaurant.
Jake Lemoine will be building the Boardwalk Grille on now-vacant land owned by the city as part of the riverwalk in downtown. Under the agreement, the city is leasing the land at Fifth Street and Division Avenue to Lemoine for $100 a year for 25 years. He will have an option to buy the land after 10 years.
Lemoine is paying to build the restaurant. At a previous meeting, a city council member asked about the legal aspects for paying property taxes. Trahan got the information.
The deal includes a grant from the city’s Economic Development Corporation of up to $200,000 to pay for infrastructure like foundation, water, sewer, and other utilities for the new building.
In other business, the council appointed Dr. Suzonne Crockett and Anna Smith to the board of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The council on second and final reading added 1402, 1404, and 1406 10th Street to the Future Land Use Map as commercial property.
Trahan thanked the city staff for successfully moving the Fourth of July fireworks show because of the rain. City Manager Dr. Shawn Oubre in turn commended Trahan on his work in the changes that had to be made the day before the holiday.
District 2 Councilor Brad Childs, who owns Childs Ace Hardware on 16th Street, thanked Orange police, West Orange police, and citizens who helped police catch thieves. His store was hit three times within two weeks. Suspects were caught and arrested, plus the stolen items were recovered.
He said he, along with the Rev. Demetrius Moffett and Henry Lowe are starting a community crime watch program.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
Social Media