Redevelopment commission approves funding for animal shelter

The City of Columbus has given initial approval to spend money from city redevelopment funds to help build a new animal shelter at the airport.

The redevelopment commission approved the first $750,000 of funding for the Columbus Animal Care Services project at its meeting last night.

Doug Sunkel, Project Manager for the new shelter, explained that the new, $9.75 million dollar shelter will be built across the street from the current shelter at the airport as part of a new Airplex Commerce Center. The cost includes $8.76 million for the site development and construction as $1.15 million to relocate a sewer line and purchase new kennel equipment, furnishings and other fixtures.

Of that, $5 million will come from the city’s general fund, $2 million from donations, $1.3 million from a state grant. $250 thousand from income tax revenues and $1.1 million from redevelopment funds.

The redevelopment portion includes $750,000 for the building itself and another $450,000 for infrastructure.

The commission agreed yesterday to spend $500,000 from the central tax increment financing district to be split up over this year and next, and $250,000 from the mid-town tax increment financing district to be spent this year. Heather Pope, the city’s redevelopment director, said that the infrastructure portion will come from the airport tax increment financing district and be presented at a later date when the numbers become more clear.

Requests for redevelopment funds of more than $500,000 must also be approved by Columbus City Council.