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Maywood businessman ‘forced to sell’
amid high property taxes
amid high property taxes
Corbin Colonial Funeral Chapel looks for relief from $100,000 tax bill
By L. NICOLE TROTTIE
Publisher
June 4, 2009
MAYWOOD | Homeowners aren’t the only ones feeling the sting of rising property taxes.
The owner of the Corbin Colonial Funeral Chapel located in Maywood said mounting tax
bills have left him ‘forced to sell’ his property. It’s regrettable, but the ever increasing taxes
just make it prohibitive to do business, said Randy Corbin, Corbin Colonial, proprietor,
noting that the property’s 2008 second installment tax assessment was $110,000. “There
was no relief in sight. I’m set to sell.”
Corbin bought the 6,000 sq ft. site at 1001 Madison Street next to Family Dollar and
constructed on it an all brick building four years ago in 2006. “The property was zoned for a
funeral home prior to us purchasing the property in 2006,” Corbin said.
continued...
By L. NICOLE TROTTIE
Publisher
June 4, 2009
MAYWOOD | Homeowners aren’t the only ones feeling the sting of rising property taxes.
The owner of the Corbin Colonial Funeral Chapel located in Maywood said mounting tax
bills have left him ‘forced to sell’ his property. It’s regrettable, but the ever increasing taxes
just make it prohibitive to do business, said Randy Corbin, Corbin Colonial, proprietor,
noting that the property’s 2008 second installment tax assessment was $110,000. “There
was no relief in sight. I’m set to sell.”
Corbin bought the 6,000 sq ft. site at 1001 Madison Street next to Family Dollar and
constructed on it an all brick building four years ago in 2006. “The property was zoned for a
funeral home prior to us purchasing the property in 2006,” Corbin said.
continued...
Randy Corbin, Corbin Colonial Funeral Chapel, owner talks to WSJ TV about the
mounting taxes in Maywood.
mounting taxes in Maywood.
The village Code Enforcement ordinance mandates that a funeral chapel have a minimum of
6 parking spaces. Corbin currently has 8 parking spaces. To make parking more accessible,
one year ago, Corbin purchased the 11,000 sq ft. vacant lot at 1101 Madison Street from
Rock Of Ages Baptist Church located on Madison Street.
“The zoning permit to renovate the vacant lot into a parking lot was approved one year after
we applied,” said Corbin of Maywood village officials.
Corbin said he is reluctant to build out the vacant lot due to the rising taxes. “I sent out
letters to all the village officials regarding my tax bill,” said Corbin who has yet to get a
response.
“I called State Representative Karen Yarbrough who reviewed the tax bill and suggested I talk
to a tax attorney,” said Corbin who did just that.
“I called the village manager (Jason Ervin) two days after receiving the bill,” added Corbin. “I
saw him six months later at which time he asked me, “how’s the tax situation coming along?” I
responded, “I’ve hired an attorney.” “Let me know if there is anything else I can help you
with,” replied Ervin, according to Corbin.
Corbin says business is good but the taxes and village administration are a deterrent.
“Business is great. I’m not forced to sell because of the business. I’m forced to sell because
of the taxes.”
TIF denied
Corbin purchased the 7 ft. alley next to his business from the Family Dollar store last year.
However, the village did not permit Corbin easement rights for the alley. “Had easement rights
been amended
I would not have had to purchase the alley and would have qualified for TIF incentives,”
Corbin said.
Corbin’s alley was the only alley not resurfaced in the village’s ongoing repavement project
along Madison Street, according to Corbin.
6 parking spaces. Corbin currently has 8 parking spaces. To make parking more accessible,
one year ago, Corbin purchased the 11,000 sq ft. vacant lot at 1101 Madison Street from
Rock Of Ages Baptist Church located on Madison Street.
“The zoning permit to renovate the vacant lot into a parking lot was approved one year after
we applied,” said Corbin of Maywood village officials.
Corbin said he is reluctant to build out the vacant lot due to the rising taxes. “I sent out
letters to all the village officials regarding my tax bill,” said Corbin who has yet to get a
response.
“I called State Representative Karen Yarbrough who reviewed the tax bill and suggested I talk
to a tax attorney,” said Corbin who did just that.
“I called the village manager (Jason Ervin) two days after receiving the bill,” added Corbin. “I
saw him six months later at which time he asked me, “how’s the tax situation coming along?” I
responded, “I’ve hired an attorney.” “Let me know if there is anything else I can help you
with,” replied Ervin, according to Corbin.
Corbin says business is good but the taxes and village administration are a deterrent.
“Business is great. I’m not forced to sell because of the business. I’m forced to sell because
of the taxes.”
TIF denied
Corbin purchased the 7 ft. alley next to his business from the Family Dollar store last year.
However, the village did not permit Corbin easement rights for the alley. “Had easement rights
been amended
I would not have had to purchase the alley and would have qualified for TIF incentives,”
Corbin said.
Corbin’s alley was the only alley not resurfaced in the village’s ongoing repavement project
along Madison Street, according to Corbin.