Development incentive leads to multiple construction projects in The Yard 

The planning department at city hall is recommending council extend a commercial development incentive for another year after three new projects resulted from the current program. 

Two new hotels and a restaurant are underway because of the sliding tax incentive scale introduced a year ago. 

One hotel is at 4284 Seventh Ave. E., the second is at 4477 Seventh Ave. E., and the restaurant will be at 4333 Seventh Ave. E. 

Council voted in April to adopt an incentive that gives new developments a full municipal property tax exemption in their first year of business. Businesses pay 20 per cent in the second year, with the amount increasing each year until they pay the full amount in the fifth year.