School advocates don't like the idea of a tax allocation district for the redevelopment of the former GM plant in Doraville.
"The final piece of public financing is finally in place to redevelop the former General Motors plant in Doraville, a project that will start with 500 new jobs," reports Mark Niesse.
That is, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted to implement a tax allocation district "that will leverage anticipated future tax revenue to pay for infrastructure, including a covered street connecting the site to MARTA."
"The county school system didn’t sign on to the tax allocation district, but money that would have otherwise gone toward public education is nevertheless being diverted to the development through a complex financing arrangement that includes tax breaks approved by the Doraville Development Authority in August," adds Niesse.
The redevelopment project, called Assembly, first crossed Planetizen's path in September 2014, when it was being touted as the region's largest transit oriented development.
This is not the first political battle to square schools against developers over revenue generated by value capture mechanisms such as this tax allocation district. Chicago has encountered similar drama over its expanded use of tax increment financing in recent years.
FULL STORY: 500 jobs pledged as DeKalb approves plan to rebuild old GM site
Redevelopment of GM Plant in Doraville, Georgia Would Be Region's Largest TOD
A redevelopment project in Doraville, outside of Atlanta, is touted as potentially of catalytic significance for the region, thanks in part to the location of a MARTA station next door.
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
$1 Billion Redevelopment Planned for a Former Mall in Cutler Bay, Florida
Mall not making money like it used to? How would a $1 billion redevelopment sound?
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
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