Arlington City Council voted 8-0, with the mayor abstaining, on Tuesday, June 13 to approve repurposing the Six Flags Mall site to a General Motors Parts Supplier Hub.
The redevelopment project, dubbed Arlington Automotive Logistics Center, will cost $250 million and, over the next 10 years, is expected to bring hundreds of jobs and taxable sales and purchases of $151 million to Arlington.
“The logistics center is a complex redevelopment project with extraordinary challenges, from the costs of assembling the property from multiple owners to demolition, asbestos removal and site preparation. This deal required cooperation to make possible,” Deputy City Manager Jim Parajon said in a news release. “The city is leveraging a $250 million investment that will create good-paying jobs, ensure General Motors’ longevity in Arlington and significantly increase the value of this prime piece of property.”
At its meeting, the Arlington City Council also approved incentives to facilitate the project, including:
-For NorthPoint:
-100 percent property tax abatement on added value of the mall site for 10 years, (approximately $2.6 million)
-Waiver of all development fees (approximately $1 million)
-Public infrastructure improvements ($2 million)
-Chapter 380 grant to reimburse site development costs ($6 million)
-For GM:
-80 percent tax abatement on the added value of business personal property for 10 years (approximately $2.7 million)
“The mall was no longer economically viable and its value was on the decline. This economic development project will transform a deteriorating shopping center into a vibrant manufacturing center,” Parajon said in the release. “Through this collaborative approach with NorthPoint and GM, we will see the site redeveloped in a way that will enhance Arlington’s already thriving economy.”
The developer of the project will be Missouri-based NorthPoint Development, which plans to build 1.2 million square feet of space for GM plant suppliers. Their space will be located across the highway from the GM plant and will employ up to 1,800 employees, with many jobs expected to have salaries above $50,000.
Overall, the project is expected to result in more than 3,800 direct, indirect and induced jobs with workers’ earnings topping $1.7 billion over the next 10 years, according to an economic impact study commissioned by the city.
“General Motors has been helping people live their American Dream in Arlington since the assembly plant opened in 1954. With the company’s continued investment and commitment to doing business in our city, those dreams will continue for years to come,” said Councilman Robert Shepard, economic development committee chairman, in the release.
Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams recused himself from the project deliberations and all votes, including the June 13 council vote, to avoid a potential conflict of interest with his business, Graham Associates Inc.