The high tech company NIOWAVE has agreed to invest $100,000 into a facility neighbors have called an "eye-sore" for almost a year.
But as Nick Perreault explains, the company now wants a tax exemption and neighbors are asking city council not to take the bait.
It's a 14,000 square foot facility that just seems to be in the wrong place.
"If we were talking about this in an industrial park, I don't think we would be having this discussion right now," said Council President Carol Wood.
But they are because the high tech company,NIOWAVE, which is a stones throw away for some Walnut Neighborhood homeowners, is asking for a 6 year, $500,0000 tax exemption from the city for equipment.
Some who live nearby have been against the design from 2006 when it was built, but the company says they need the money in order to expand.
"We've identified three major commerical markets for our accelerations and each one has the potential for bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars," said NIOWAVE Chief Operating Officer Jerry Hollister.
With the exemption, NIOWAVE promises at least 25 new jobs, with average salaries around 60 thousand dollars, but Claude Beavers is telling council not to buy that.
"Do we really know that jobs have been created by those companies that say, yeah we will give you a 100 new jobs if you do this for us, I have not seen that data," Beavers said."
"I don't like the idea of a broke city giving away tax dollars period for this kind of activity," said Lansing Resident Brad Deacon.
It's activity though that some have learned to deal with being in their own backyard.
"It sounds like progress is beginning to be made, people are starting to listen to each other and I'm happy about that."
But time is running out with a vote scheduled for two weeks.
"It's hopeful as long as people are talking anything can happen right up until the final moment," said At-Large Council Member Brian Jefferies
City Council will make an official vote on tax exemption in two weeks at their regular council meeting.
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