A new mapping project allows new access to information about Chicago's controversial tax increment financing mechanism. Now at least the debate will include visuals.
Benjamin van Loon shares news of the TIF Projects map from Chicago Cityscape, which offers new and helpful access to information and visualization of the impact of tax increment financing.
According to van Loon, "Chicago Cityscape's data-rich map provides an interactive overview of all 375 TIF projects in Chicago currently or soon-to-be underway. Data can be sorted by project name, approval date, TIF assistance amount, total project cost, ward, and community area, so you can always see how that magic money is being spent."
The article also includes a series of screengrabs from neighborhoods around Chicago. TIF districts have come under fire in Chicago recently, with a debate over how TIFs get spent (i.e., "mayor's slush fund for wealthy Downtown interests" or "neighborhood infrastructure investment necessity") leading up the recent Chicago mayoral election.
FULL STORY: Now You Can Easily See Where TIF Dollars Are Being Spent
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research