EASTON, Pa. – A special tax financing plan tied to the $185 million redevelopment of Wilson borough’s old Dixie Cup plant has been talked about by Northampton County leaders for well over a year.

But the conversation isn’t over yet. Far from it.  

The topic was the subject of a public hearing on Northampton County Council’s agenda Thursday night, and the discussion dominated the more than three-and-a-half hour meeting.

Developer Brian Bartee with Skyline Investment Group has already started the process of renovating the massive, dilapidated factory off South 25th Street into 405 apartments. To help fund the project, Skyline has been seeking a $26 million TIF, or Tax Increment Financing plan, which is a tool that allows for future gains in real estate values to be used now to pay for redevelopment costs. 

Under the TIF, Skyline would continue to pay taxes on the more than 10-acre property’s pre-construction value but would not pay the reassessed tax value on the completed building for 20 years.

The Wilson Area School District and Wilson borough also had to approve the TIF, and did. Northampton County Council, after getting the approval from its Industrial Redevelopment Authority, is the final holdout.

“At this point, we’re just waiting to hear your answer,” said Wilson Council President John Burke, who has publicly indicated his support for the TIF many times before council.

But there still seems to exist a difference of opinion among members of the public and County Council: Is the TIF warranted to reinvigorate a long-dormant, landmark property in the county, or does it amount to an unfair tax break for an out-of-town developer?

“I’m all for redevelopment…but we didn’t get no tax breaks,” said Wilson resident James Bundro, who spoke during the public hearing. “Somebody dropped the ball on the Dixie plant a long time ago. If somebody wants to come in here and redevelop it, when they come into Wilson borough, I believe they should pay their fair share like the residents do.”

His sentiments were echoed by Council Vice President John Goffredo, who questioned Bartee at length about whether he intended to sell the property after the renovations are complete. Bartee balked at adding a 20-year ownership guarantee to the TIF agreement, but indicated he might be willing to sign on to a 12-year contract, since he has plans to develop more than just the Dixie Cup site. Bartee also recently purchased the former LA Fitness building on S. 25th St., which is in front of the Dixie plant. 

“My responsibility it to build this building, and make Lehigh Valley, Wilson beautiful,” Bartee said. “To make Wilson money, to make the school district money so they can do more and invest into their infrastructure, to make the county money.”

“Your job is to make money. That’s your job,” Goffredo countered.

Another point of contention is the $1.1 million Skyline will pay to satisfy affordable housing requirements in the county, rather than including those units in the project itself; critics have said the figure is much too low. The average monthly rent for the Dixie Cup apartments will be just under $2,500.

Harrison Bailey III, the superintendent of the Wilson Area School District, asked council to consider the human element of the project. “There’s a much bigger objective for me…than tax base,” he said. Bailey told council he’s talked to Bartee about high school students in the district taking part in hands-on mentorship opportunities during the construction process. 

“I think it would be great for the youth of Lehigh Valley to be able to see something that was dilapidated as it is, and then have full access to me,” Bartee said.

Ultimately, the “pros” of the project may not be enough to sway some members of council. “I think we’re getting hosed as a county,” Goffredo said, before leaving the meeting. 

Commissioner Jeff Warren was visibly frustrated by the end of the evening, noting the factory has been vacant for more than 40 years. “We have somebody in front of us who is willing to do this, to put his own money out there,” he said. “This is incredible to me at this point, where we’re at.” 

“We have this tool to use,” Warren continued, referencing the TIF. “If we’re not going to use it now, when are we going to use it?”

Northampton County Council didn’t vote on the TIF Thursday night. Council will have another opportunity to discuss the issue ahead of a possible vote during its meeting on Nov. 6.