Soon, and for a long time, the old Boise Cascade sawmill will be known by a different name.
What that name is has yet to be determined. What is clear is that developers are licking their chops over the prospect of redeveloping the site along Interstate 82 -- and so is the Yakima City Council.
Toward that goal, the council on Tuesday signaled its intent to create a special taxing district that would ease the 200-plus acre site's transition from dead sawmill to an envisioned mix of retail, commercial and possibly residential development.
Perhaps more appropriately called an anti-taxing district, the first step is to hold a public hearing, which the council set for June 10.
The hearing is a required formality to pass an ordinance, which the council must do in order to form the district
Known as a LIFT, short for Local Infrastructure Financing Tool, such districts defer state sales tax revenue as a way of spurring economic growth and development.
The vote was unanimous and without comment. City officials have a deadline of June 30 to get the paperwork ready.
In other business Tuesday, the council:
* Formally accepted ownership of West Valley Community Park from Yakima County. The deal lets the cash-strapped county off the hook for maintenance and helps the city satisfy state-mandated recreation requirements for newly annexed neighborhoods. No money changed hands.
* Gave permission to the police department to seek a $180,000 state grant that would provide funding for equipment, training, overtime and other expenses to fight car theft.
* Set the first day of summer, June 21, as the date for the Yakima Avenue cruising celebration known as "Cruisin' The Ave."
Now in its fourth year, the event will get under way at 6 p.m., two hours earlier than in years past, and end an hour earlier, at 10 p.m.
In addition, there will be no end-of-summer September cruise.
* Chris Bristol can be reached at 577-7748 or cbristol@yakimaherald.com.
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