Tax Abatements

Aerial view of large suburban homes in Rochester, New York

New York Affordable Housing Tax Incentive Targets Suburbs

If Gov. Hochul’s proposed budget passes, the new tax abatement would incentivize affordable housing development in the state’s smaller municipalities.

February 7, 2023 - Crain's Business New York

Apartment buildings under construction with crane.

A Menu of Proposed Housing Policy Reforms

The Mercatus Center published a list of 16 policy recommendations designed to help states clear local obstacles for housing construction.

September 7, 2022 - Mercatus Center

Detroit Skyline

Detroit Tax Abatement Will Keep Senior Renters in Upscale Building

The city worked with the owners of an apartment building to maintain lower rents so longtime residents would not be displaced after renovations.

November 8, 2019 - Detroit Free Press

Cleveland Heights

Tax Abatements for Residential Projects Under the Microscope

The Cleveland City Council is considering legislation that would launch a process of re-examining the city's tax abatement program.

April 22, 2019 - ideastream

Forest Park Southeast

Mapping Tax Abatements to Mitigate Controversy

St. Louis politicians are embroiled in controversy over the city's use of tax abatements, which come at the expense of funding for the city's school district. A map is seen as part of the solution.

August 13, 2018 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Houston, Construction

Houston Requires Community Benefits for Development Subsidies

Houston joins cities like Philadelphia, Detroit, and Minneapolis in demanding a greater return on public dollars.

June 8, 2018 - Next City

Spokane Parking Lot

Spokane Considers Tax Incentive to Redevelop Downtown Parking Lots

It's an idea that has already had some success in Philadelphia: give developers a tax abatement on projects that achieve some desired end, in this case fewer surface parking lots.

November 19, 2017 - The Spokesman-Review

Akron, Ohio

A New Housing Strategy for Akron, Ohio

The city of Akron has lost 93,000 residents since 1960, so it has room to grow. Now it has a draft housing plan that uses a tax abatement program modeled on examples in Cleveland and Cuyahoga Falls.

February 6, 2017 - Akron Beacon Journal

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

Philadelphia Italian market

The Great Debate: How to Attract Investment in Neglected Urban Areas

With the key assumption that more of Philadelphia needs to see the benefits of the recent wave of investment that has come to the city's urban core, politicians at varying levels of government are considering multiple policy options.

March 30, 2016 - Philadelphia

Nevada's $1.2 Billion Investment in Tesla Predicted to Have $100 Billion Impact

The generous incentives granted the electric car company for securing the $5 billion factory will yield disproportionate economic benefits, according to Gov. Brian Sandoval, for a state suffering high unemployment and a lack of economic diversity.

September 7, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Unveiling the Municipal Subsidy Hall of Shame

Daniel Denvir's article will have you thinking twice about whether your elected officials should be dedicating public resources to support the newest mega-project in your city as he explores "Great Moments in the History of Boondoggles."

May 31, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Rethinking Tax Abatements

Cities across the country are reconsidering tax abatement plans, in the new belief that cities just can't afford them.

May 31, 2009 - Next American City

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