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.
According to an article by Jacob Barker and Koran Addo, mayoral candidates in the city of St. Louis have found an issue they can agree on: the need to reform development incentives.
According to the article, "public incentives such as property tax abatement and tax-increment financing that often subsidize [redevelopment] projects are under growing scrutiny, and candidates running to be the city’s new mayor agree that some changes in approach are overdue."
The concerns of the seven remaining mayoral candidates echo the controversies surrounding development incentives in Chicago, according to the article:
Concerns have mounted over the amount of city and school district revenue being returned to the developments, estimated at some $709 million between 2000 and 2014. Others worry the incentives mainly benefit the city’s central corridor, where most development occurs.
Outgoing Mayor Francis Slay committed to reform of the city's current system of development incentives back in October 2016, acknowledging that some projects received benefits that could have afforded to proceed without the incentives, forcing the city to forgo possible sources of revenue.
Meanwhile the issue remains a hot button for some candidates for the Mayor's Office who have voted for development incentives as previous stops in their political career.
Read the full story: Mayoral candidates agree reform of St. Louis development incentives overdue
Cleveland announces new Midline industrial investment district
The plan calls for at least 1.5 million square feet of new industrial and commercial space alongside housing.
Missoula Approves Tax Increment Financing for Workforce Housing
The funding mechanism exchanges public funding for a certain number of affordable units.
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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor
Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority