A new tax plan would reform the city’s famously low vacancy tax rates in an effort to stimulate more housing development and limit speculation.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is proposing a tax plan that would sharply increase the city’s low tax on vacant and underutilized lots. As Robin Runyan explains in Urbanize Detroit, the Land Value Tax Plan, as it’s called, “would increase the tax millage on land and reduce the millage on structures.”
According to Duggan, the plan “would triple the taxes on land while decreasing taxes on buildings by 30%,” promising a tax cut for almost all of the city’s homeowners and multifamily housing developments.
“This plan would affect owners of surface lots we see all over downtown Detroit, vacant buildings within residential neighborhoods, abandoned factories, and vacant lots often used as dumping grounds throughout the city.” Runyan adds that the plan would have to be approved by the state legislature this fall, then by voters next year, before being phased in over three years.
FULL STORY: Proposed tax plan in Detroit addresses blight, land speculators
Maryland Passes New Vacancy Tax Law
The law allows local jurisdictions to set tax rates for vacant lots and properties to discourage speculation and stimulate development.
How Effective are Philadelphia’s Keystone Opportunity Zones?
The impacts of a tax break designed to create jobs, stimulate development, and reduce blight are proving hard to track.
Proposed Land Value Tax Plan in Detroit
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan proposes hiking property taxes for vacant land and buildings while lowering the rate for occupied homes and businesses in a split tax plan he contends will resolve many of Detroit's blight and high property tax woes.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
In These Cities, Most New Housing is Under 441 Square Feet
With loosened restrictions on “micro-housing,” tiny units now make up as much as 66% of newly constructed housing.
Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.
This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)