Marsh drops abatement request

Marsh Supermarkets has withdrawn a request for a five-year tax abatement for renovation of the downtown O’Malia’s store. Marsh officials notified the city Tuesday, shortly after Property Lines reported on the abatement. Marsh Spokeswoman Connie Gardner said the controversy over property tax increases fueled the decision. She said the original request was appropriate, considering the company’s investment of up to $1.5 million and the potential creation of new jobs if sales increase. “We’re going to put a bunch of money in that store and really make it nice for the people downtown,” Gardner said. “We do believe it was a valid request at the time, but when we filed it we weren’t in the current environment on property taxes.”