Target Dumps Arlington Heights TIF

As I was reading the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday, I noticed a story by Graydon Meganthat saying that Target and the Village of Arlington Heights are parting their ways.

Arlington Heights, you may remember decided to condemn the businesses in its International Plaza in order to attract Target.

Municipal officials can condemn property in a Tax Increment Financing district.

It’s called eminent domain and is being used in the Vulcan Lakes TIF project in Crystal Lake, even though Mayor Aaron Shepley said there would be no condemnation of property.

The Arlington Heights businessmen—mainly immigrants–went up for grabs.

Enter libertarian-minded activists angry at the condemnation of property for economic development.

They protested.

They leafleted door-to-door.

Candidates used the issue to make the incumbents look bad.

And, although the challengers did not succeed, the incumbents and Target threw in the towel.

“We just made it uncomfortable for Target,” Scott Bludorn, one of the citizens activists told McHenry County Blog.

“We certainly made the incumbents look shameful.”

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Bludorn is seen in front of the map above.


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