Sales tax for fiscal year 2007 in the UNP TIF District totaled $1.6 million. Because Super Target moved from another Norman location, the store’s previous sales tax revenues were subtracted and the amount was adjusted down to $832,082. Of that, $499,249 or 60 percent would go to the TIF and $332,833 or 40 percent would go to the general fund.

Super Target opened a year ago, with Kohl’s opening today.

John Q. Hammons broke ground for a $50 million Embassy Suites Hotel/Conference Center on Feb. 28. Construction on the 10-story hotel is up to the seventh floor. Conference center construction began recently.

Retail outlets or restaurants announced so far for the first phase include Pei Wei Asian Bistro, AT&T, T-Mobile, Petco, Circuit City, Office Depot, Dress Barn, Maurice’s, Rack Room Shoes and TJ Maxx.

The second phase is planned to include the Lifestyle Center and would include an upscale shopping element that was the focus of the Citizens TIF Advisory Group that evaluated the project before council approved it.

Ward 1 councilmember Bob Thompson expressed concern that the city might just be “pushing dollars around.”

“That’s the elephant in the room,” Thompson said.

Ward 7 councilmember Doug Cubberley called some of that discussion “premature.”

“Let’s get a year of data in,” Cubberley said. “Are we making progress or are we treading water? … This has always been a stepped process. This is coming and it’s coming a lot faster than anyone envisioned. People have to have patience.”

Lewis said the city might consider hiring outside professionals to examine the extent of cannibalization and effects the district has on the city’s tax base.

Carol Cole-Frowe366-3538ccole@normantranscript.com