Tax Breaks Wanted To Move Glenview Business To Northbrook

NORTHBROOK, IL – A Glenview-based aircraft parts supplier is seeking nearly $700,000 in Cook County tax breaks to move its business to a Northbrook, the Northbrook Star reports. Jet International, currently located at 1811 Elmdale Ave., is considering moving to 1919 Stanley St. as it looks to expand into a larger space. The proposed site is owned by Maurice Sporting Goods, which last year announced it will move its operations to Atlanta and laid off nearly 50 employees in Northbrook, according to the Star.

In order to qualify for the Cook County tax breaks, the location must be considered "vacant" for two years, the Star reported. The building, which went on the market a year ago and has been used for storage ever since, now qualifies as vacant, a lawyer for Jet told Northbrook Trustees at a Sept. 12 hearing.

The 12 years of tax breaks would cut Jet's property tax obligations down to about $600,000 from roughly $1.3 million, compared to $425,000 in tax revenue from property should it remain vacant, according to the Star. The company said the move would also bring 26 employees to Northbrook with the possibility of dozens more over the the next few years.

But, according to the Star, representatives from the company were unable to verify that the site's "vacant" status has lasted for the required two-year period. Northbrook trustees would still be able to offer Jet tax breaks if it determined "special circumstances" applied. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Northbrook — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Other local taxing bodies, such as Glenbrook High Schools District 225, Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 and the Northbrook Park District could all lose money from the tax break or if the company's move falls through, the Star reported.

Glenview village officials were not notified that Jet was planning a move to Northbrook, but they plan to contact the company to explore if there are "similar opportunities in Glenview," according to the paper.

» Read more from the Northbrook Star

_{Top photo: 1919 Stanley St. in Northbrook, owned by Maurice Sporting Goods and possible future site of Jet International | Google Street View}