[12/3/04]A tax break for removing the vacant and dilapidated building at Battlefield Village mall was discussed Thursday by the owner of the property and the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

J.E. “Brother” Blackburn Jr., owner of Blackburn Motor Co., and Chris Gouras of Jimmy Gouras Urban Planning Consultant met with supervisors during the board’s weekly informal meeting.

Blackburn bought the property on North Frontage Road in September and announced plans to tear down the empty building and replace it with Nissan and Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealerships.

Gouras said he and Blackburn plan to ask both the City of Vicksburg and the county to use a state law passed in 2000 to allow exemptions from real property taxes for up to seven years on redeveloped property. He said the exemption would be similar to the historic district exemptions the city and county approved earlier this year for the downtown historic district. The law can also be applied for land that is considered blighted.

“The building at Battlefield can qualify as blighted,” commented Richard George, District 5 supervisor.

The historic district ordinances allow the owners of qualifying property within the district to receive an exemption for up to seven years on the difference between the taxes paid on the unimproved property and the taxes that could be charged on the improvements.

George also said if the city and county grant the exemptions they would be helping an existing business that has a long history of providing jobs and doing business in the community.

District 1 Supervisor David McDonald said the main selling point for granting an exemption would be helping get rid of the old mall building.

Gouras said his company had been involved in planning innovative and aggressive financial methods for projects across Mississippi, including the Bass Pro Shop in Pearl and the stadium deal for the minor league baseball stadium near Jackson.

The board asked Gouras and Blackburn for an executive summary showing financial aspects.