Despite over a year of proposals, counter proposals, and heated debate, the city of Philadelphia has yet to broker a breakthrough on proposed reforms to the city's ten-year property tax abatement program.
Philadelphia Councilmember Helen Gym has made reforming the city's 10-year property tax abatement a top legislative priority, proposing bills in 2018 to change the subsidy, and sparking a wave of debates and further suggestions for changes in the time since.
Despite all the debate and suggestions, "when Council’s spring session concluded last month, none of the six pending abatement reform bills had received so much as a hearing," according to an article by Jake Blumgart. The question raised by Blumgart is why the reform of the property tax abatement is so easy to talk about but so hard to deliver.
Gym has "refused to place blame on specific actors." Mayor Jim Kenney says consensus has been hard to build. Still, despite the strong support of the current abatement from two of the city's most influential local interest groups, the real estate industry and building trades unions, the tide does some to be turning in favor of making the property tax abatement work to the benefit of affordable housing more than it does in its current format. As noted by Blumgart, some builders also support the idea of reforming the current tax abatement.
FULL STORY: Why Philadelphia punted on tax abatement reform...again
Voters Reject Cincinnati's Affordable Housing Ballot Issue
A charter amendment that would have guaranteed funding for the Cincinnati Housing trust Fund was soundly defeated by voters in a citywide election last week.
Density Skepticism and Neighborhood Protection
Resistance mounts to the zoning reforms gaining traction in the United States.
Housing Trust Fund Vote Stirs Controversy in Cincinnati
A housing policy debate is taking place on the editorial pages of Cincinnati publications.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.
A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
Houston Mayor Promises Dedicated Austin Street Bike Lane After Public Backlash
Although the one-way bike lane won’t be protected by physical barriers, the proposal is an improvement over the mayor’s initial plan to only include sharrows on the Austin Street project.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service