Development Incentives

Council Proposes Plan for Transit-Oriented Development in Philadelphia
Philadelphia City Council seeks ways to spur development without creating new traffic issues.

St. Louis Debating and Reforming its Development Incentives
The city of St. Louis is in the midst of an intense political debate—with mayoral consequences—on the subject of development incentives, which critics say just help the rich get richer.

How *Not* To Do Economic Development
It's clear that New Jersey’s economic development planners didn't spend much time thinking about opportunity costs when they approved $1.1 billion in tax incentives under the Grow NJ program.

Akron Considering the End of Parking Minimums as a Downtown Development Incentive
The Akron City Council will this week decide on legislation that could at it to the roster of cities that have reformed parking requirements.

Denver to Offer New Transit Oriented Height Bonuses for Affordable Housing
The city of Denver is going all in for incentive zoning to ensure affordable housing is included among new developments in the neighborhood around the new 38th and Blake transit station.

An Argument Against Government Incentives for Grocery Stores
Food desert-busting is one of the cross-over opportunities between planning and public health, but it's unclear how effective bringing healthy foods to underserved neighborhoods has been.

Fallout Over Expired Tax Abatement Program Grows in New York City
When the state allowed the 421-a tax abatement program to expire in January, the city of New York lost a key tool for development in the city. Now scuttled developments are blaming their demise on the lack of 421-a.

Disneyland Wants a $200 Million Tax Break for a New Hotel
Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait says there is no legitimate reason to give Disney the tax break.
Op-Ed Details Sordid Anchorage Development Deal
Local officials accused of being "gullible" as they mull a proposed development deal that would redevelop an iconic downtown theater and knock down a derelict hotel in Midtown Anchorage, Alaska.
Political Battles Heating Up Over Affordable Housing in San Francisco
An affordable housing ballot measure opposed by affordable housing advocates: welcome to the strange housing politics of San Francisco.

San Francisco Planning Department Proposes Increasing Heights in Neighborhoods
The San Francisco Planning Department is proposing a trade-off to neighborhoods to comply with a state density bonus law: Modestly increase height and density limits in exchange for more affordable housing.

Re-Evaluating Houston's Downtown Living Initiative
Like many other cities, Houston was looking for ways to bring more residents to Downtown. The Downtown Living Initiative has worked well—but will it leave some populations behind?

Density Bonuses Proposed to Spur Affordable Housing in San Francisco
Mayor Ed Lee this week proposed a density bonus policy that would help the city build approximately 16,000 new units of housing, including 5,000 affordable units along select transit corridors.
Cincinnati Hopes to Stay on a Roll with New Development Director Oscar Bedolla
Cincinnati recently hired Oscar Bedolla as its new trade and development director. Bedolla will play a key role in facilitating development in a city hoping to maintain its current upswing.
Miami Considers Ending Parking Minimums on Transit Corridors
Notoriously car dependent Miami will consider a zoning code amendment exempting small multi-family developments within a quarter mile of transit corridors from parking minimums.
Questioning Hotel Tax Subsidies in Los Angeles
Desperate to build hotel capacity in the neighborhood surrounding the Los Angeles Convention Center, the city has granted hundreds of millions in tax breaks to hotel developers. Some are asking the city to rethink the subsidies.
A Prescription for TOD
Renata Simril, regional VP for national developer Forest City, describes the financing and policy mechanisms she sees as necessary to bring TOD to cities.
Pagination
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