Development Incentives

Market Street, Center City

Council Proposes Plan for Transit-Oriented Development in Philadelphia

Philadelphia City Council seeks ways to spur development without creating new traffic issues.

March 1, 2017 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Gateway Arch

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.

February 13, 2017 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Camden

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.

October 28, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Akron

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.

October 24, 2016 - Akron Beacon Journal

Construction crane in foreground, Denver skyline in background

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.

September 23, 2016 - The Denver Post

Produce Aisle

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.

July 25, 2016 - The Dallas Morning News

New York City Greenwich

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.

July 21, 2016 - DNAInfo

Disneyland Hotel

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.

June 26, 2016 - Voice of Orange County

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.

January 29, 2016 - Anchorage Dispatch News

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.

January 26, 2016 - San Francisco Magazine

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.

November 19, 2015 - Hoodline

Downtown Houston

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?

October 28, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

San Francisco Houses

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.

September 30, 2015 - The San Francisco Chronicle

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.

November 25, 2014 - Cincinnati Business Courier

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.

October 27, 2014 - Miami Herald

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.

April 21, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

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.

July 8, 2010 - The Planning Report

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