A controversial form of value capture, tax increment financing begs for further analysis and understanding. A new report by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy sheds light on the subject.

Tanvi Misra shares news of a new study by David Merriman, professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, for the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy that digs into the causes and effects of Tax Increment Financing.
The report, titled "Improving Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Economic Development," examines available research on the implementation and impacts of TIF before coming to the conclusion "that the mechanism, while helpful in some ways, leaves a lot to be desired," according to Misra.
Misra explains how TIF works, and illuminates some of the common criticisms about TIF in the real world. For instance:
Critics often charge that it funnels money out of the taxpayers’ pockets into a special fund that, by and large, works in a pretty opaque manner. While some of that money funds essential public works, much has also gone towards erecting new Whole Foods, renovating glitzy hotels, and building stadiums—the type of projects, one might argue, should not require such incentives. And the evidence Merriman analyzes suggest [sic] they may have a point. He shows that, in most cases around the country, the tool did not fulfill its main goal of boosting economic development.
The article also includes resources for understanding the controversy surrounding TIF in Chicago, where TIF stays in the news almost constantly.
FULL STORY: The Trouble With TIF

Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects
Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.

Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’
A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?

Proposal Would Transform L.A.’s ‘Freeway to Nowhere’ Into Park, Housing
A never-completed freeway segment could see new life as a mixed-use development with housing, commercial space, and one of the county’s largest parks.

Report: Bike Lanes Can't Make up for New Roads
If California wants to meet its climate goals, the state must stop funding its myriad road construction and expansion projects.

Minneapolis Affordable Housing Project Largest in 20 Years
The city opened its first large multifamily affordable housing complex in decades, but a recent court ruling against the Minneapolis 2040 rezoning plan could jeopardize future projects.

NYC Mayor Proposes Eliminating Parking Minimums
Mayor Adams wants to stop requiring off-site parking for new buildings to reduce the costs of construction as part of the ‘City of Yes’ package of zoning reforms.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
Lassen County Planning and Building Services
City of San Carlos
National Capital Planning Commission
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.