A common and sometimes controversial funding mechanism is growing in popularity in suburban Minnesota, even as its use in the urban core decreases.
Eric Roper and John Reinan report that communities in the suburbs of the Twin Cities are relying more and more on tax increment financing (TIF), as Minneapolis has largely abandoned the funding mechanism except top fund housing.
According to the article, TIF is "the backbone of Edina’s plan to rebuild a massive 1960s office park; of Wayzata’s new downtown housing and retail complex; of glitzy outdoor malls in St. Louis Park and Eagan; and mixed-use districts around several Northstar commuter rail stations."
In fact, the 15 costliest subsidy districts approved in the state in the last five years were all located in the suburbs or outstate Minnesota. Meanwhile, the amount of revenue generated by TIF in Minneapolis is in decline as older districts expire, according to the article.
The article includes a lot more examples of case studies from cities around the state of Minnesota.
Read the full story: Suburbs embrace tax subsides as Minneapolis' interest fades
Funding Rolling in for Still-Uncertain Nicollet Ave Streetcar in Minneapolis
Several new developments are adding funds to the pot of money in a streetcar district created by Minneapolis to circumvent a politically unpalatable tax increment financing district.
Op-Ed: Stop Attacking My Suburb!
A proud suburban resident defends her neighborhood from the criticisms of city-dwellers. It's not walkable, it's not perfect, but it's home.
Omaha Mayor’s Proposal Would Build 1,900 New Housing Units Along Streetcar Line
Mayor Ewing introduced a new plan that would allow the city to begin distributing affordable housing financing as early as next year.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement
The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.
Nation's most wind-powered state turns to coal as data centers increase energy demand
For the first time in decades, Iowa has increased its generation of coal power.
Alabama scores up to $2.5 billion federal loan for largest infrastructure project in state’s history
The Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project aims to ease congestion at Alabama’s worst bottleneck.
Trump is considering data centers on 6 states' public land — some state officials say they had no idea
If the administration approves the proposed projects, data center and data center-related developments will cover 17,600 acres of public land.
Despite court ruling, Trump is keeping nearly all wind projects in the US on hold
At least 110 wind energy projects have not heard from the government since a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's freeze on wind turbine clearances was likely illegal.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello