St.

ST. LOUIS • Two local developments — a Mercedes-Benz dealership and an apartment building with a Whole Foods Market — moved ahead Tuesday when a city commission recommended the projects get more than $12 million in public assistance.

The city's Tax Increment Financing Commission voted unanimously to approve the TIF requests, which still need to be approved by the Board of Aldermen. Tax-increment financing helps developers pay for new commercial projects using some of the future tax money the developments generate.

Commissioners approved a $2.3 million TIF for Tri-Star Imports, which plans to move its Mercedes dealership from Ellisville to the former site of KTVI-TV on Berthold Avenue, south of Forest Park. They also voted to allow Tri-Star to collect sales taxes totaling 2 percent on parts and service.

The $13.2 million project includes demolition of the KTVI building, which has been vacant since the station moved to Maryland Heights in 2008.

Tom Hennekes, Tri-Star's president, said he hopes to begin construction in early 2013 and open the new dealership later that year.

TIF commissioners also approved $10 million in assistance to Mills Properties for its $60 million apartment project at Euclid and West Pine avenues in the Central West End.

Bruce Mills, the company's president, told commissioners the City Walk on Euclid project will have 176 market-rate apartments on six floors above the Whole Foods grocery and a 458-car garage. He said after the meeting he hopes to begin construction in February, after the retailer approves a 20-year lease agreement next month.

But Tim Hollenbach, general manager at the Straub's grocery chain, pointed out to the commissioners that the locally owned chain has operated in the neighborhood for decades, without any public help. In contrast, competitor Whole Foods will benefit from millions of dollars in public subsidies given to Mills.

"We're just looking for a level playing field," Hollenbach said.

Mills had planned to build a condo tower on the Central West End site, but the housing market collapsed and the corner remained bare. The company filled in a muddy pit on the site after neighbors complained about mosquitoes.

He told commissioners that delays in starting the development frustrated him.

"Everybody wants to do what I do until they do it," Mills said. "We were working hard behind the scenes when the economy tanked."

Meanwhile, CORTEX, the Central West End research park, requested a delay of its hearing before the St. Louis TIF Commission this morning. The meeting was rescheduled to Dec. 12.

Tim Logan of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.

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