City of Marshall working to tackle housing and development

MARSHALL, Ill. (WAND) - The Marshall City Council is working to clean up blighted properties and create more housing opportunities.

Marshall is about 20 minutes south of Paris.

Councilmembers discussed a lengthy agenda of ordinances and resolutions to address economic development in the city.

This will include targeting blighted or abandoned properties for removal and resale for future housing and a feasibility study on a redevelopment district.

The city treasurer said the district is required to spend TIF funds on public improvements.

"We can use the money we gather to make improvements in the district. We have about 10-11 houses already going up there in the last three years," said Mayor John Hasten.

The district would take the property tax dollars from the newly built homes and use that money to improve the specific area.

Hasten added that the efforts are a conscious, everyday effort to make the city a better place.