MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
A proposed expansion of a Community Improvement District (CID) at the Uptown Hutch Mall will be the subject of a public hearing Tuesday night, as city officials weigh a plan aimed at revitalizing the aging retail space through self-imposed taxation and redevelopment incentives.
Hutchinson City Council Member John Richardson said that the proposal seeks to double the current CID sales tax from 1% to 2% to help finance an estimated $16 million redevelopment project. The owner’s goal is to convert the traditional indoor mall format into a more modern, mixed-use retail environment with exterior store entrances and revamped interior spaces.
“This is a way for property owners to help fund improvements by collecting a little extra sales tax within a designated area,” Richardson said. “Those funds then go back into the property for development.”
CIDs are increasingly used across the country to fund renovations in declining commercial zones, particularly in older malls and downtown shopping districts. The Uptown Hutch Mall project, if approved, would follow that national trend, converting part of the mall into drive-up shopping and other modern configurations in response to shifting consumer habits.
The CID includes most of the main mall building—formerly home to stores like JCPenney, Dillard’s and Sears—as well as the movie theater on the east side of the property.
The CID excludes the former Walmart space, now occupied by Bomgaars and Hobby Lobby, and some surrounding retail on the entrance road from 17th Street.
“The developers believe this will ultimately benefit their tenants and their bottom line, even with the slight increase in cost to customers,” Richardson said. “It’s essentially capitalism at work—shoppers can choose to spend there or not.”
The current CID for the property was established in 2015. Tuesday’s hearing will give residents the chance to voice support or concerns over the expansion, which Richardson stressed is part of a broader effort to revive local retail and attract new businesses.
“There’s potential for real benefit to the city if this is done right,” Richardson said. “But the public hearing is our opportunity to make sure we’re looking at it from all angles.”