Ski's Liquors' $250,000 renovation project will be the first accepted by the newly created Mandan Renaissance Zone.

The Mandan City Commission approved the Renaissance Zone committee's recommendation to accept Ski's Liquors' application at Tuesday's meeting. The application still has to be reviewed and approved by the state, before Ski's is eligible for the tax breaks allowed by the zone.

"This is an exciting deal," said Richard Mower, the Bismarck-Mandan Development vice president who has helped the city develop the Renaissance Zone. "We've been asked when we would start doing something, and this is the first project to come to the Mandan City Commission."

Earlier this summer, according to Mower, Ski's owner John Miller had approached him, explaining the proposed project and wanting to be one of the first projects taken on by the Renaissance Zone.

"This is an exciting project and will pick up on the redevelopment of the (area),"Mower said. "It will be a nice looking building, along the lines of the Captain Jack's stores in Bismarck, sharing the same design elements. It will be rebranded as a Captain Jack's store. There will be extensive renovation to the outside, the parking lot, signage and interior improvements."

City Administrator Jim Neubauer explained the Renaissance Zone encompasses a 20-block area in Mandan's downtown area. It stretches from 10th Avenue to the Memorial underpass. Everything between Main Street and the railroad tracks along this area is in the zone, while it has more of a zig-zag pattern north of Main, taking in most of First Street.

The incentives provided by the Renaissance Zone include five years of property-tax breaks from the city and five years of state income-tax reductions. The amount of the breaks are determined by the amount of the investment being made in revitalizing a commercial or residential building. Successful applicants may also receive historical tax credits and federal tax-credit dollars. Residential properties are only eligible for the state income-tax credits and not local property-tax abatement.

The BMDA is working on a brochure detailing the Renaissance Zone and its opportunities. When finalized, the information piece will be sent out to all the businesses and residences affected by the zone.

The Renaissance Zone is established for a period of 15 years, during which time the city can amend the zone's boundaries once. A successful applicant does not start receiving the tax breaks until the project is complete.

"If we find there is an area where there is nothing happening in regards to the Renaissance Zone, we could perhaps replace it with another area," Neubauer said. "There is no limit on the number of projects."

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 701-250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)