Posted August 2, 200519 yr A couple of articles today. The first is from the 8/2/05 Enquirer: City on deadline for tax districts Under plan, neighborhoods could finance improvements By Gregory Korte Enquirer staff writer City business districts from West Price Hill to Madisonville could get millions for new streetscapes, parking lots and other improvements - but only if City Hall can establish new taxing districts by a year-end deadline. Two City Council members will ask council's Neighborhoods and Public Services Committee today to approve a plan that would set up eight new districts - five on the West Side and three on the East. The tax-increment financing districts, known as TIFs, use the property tax growth in a 300-acre district to finance long-term improvements. Businesses and homeowners pay the same amount in property taxes, but other governments that rely on property taxes - including school districts, the county and social service agencies - don't get the benefit of tax growth as property values rise. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050802/NEWS01/508020377/1056/rss02 From the 8/2/05 Cincinnati Post: Special tax districts proposed By Kevin Osborne Post staff reporter Hoping to beat the deadline for an upcoming change in state law, some Cincinnati officials propose creating eight new special taxation districts that they say will spark urban redevelopment. Council members John Cranley and Laketa Cole plan to seek City Council approval this week to create the districts. The tax increment financing districts - or TIFs - must be established before a Jan. 1 change that restricts how such financing arrangements can be used in the future, officials said. "We have until the end of the year to create any additional TIFs, and then the opportunity is lost," said Cranley. MORE: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050802/NEWS01/508020356
October 21, 200519 yr From the 10/18/05 Cincinnati Post: Council to vote on tax districts By Tony Cook Post staff reporter Cincinnati City Council is prepared to vote next month on whether to create eight new special taxation districts after the proposal drew only slight resistance Monday during the final public hearing on the issue. City Council Members John Cranley and Laketa Cole want to create the districts, which they say will help spark urban renewal in some of the city's struggling neighborhoods. The city already has 11 tax increment financing districts - or TIFs - in neighborhoods such as Bond Hill, Clifton, Over-the-Rhine and downtown. The new proposal would create additional districts in Price Hill, Westwood, Avondale, Oakley, Lower Price Hill, East Price Hill, West Price Hill and Madisonville. "It allows for development to occur in a community and provides the financing to pay for it," said Cole. Under the TIF structure, any additional taxes generated by new businesses, rising property values or other neighborhood improvements are kept in that area to help bankroll future projects for a set period of time, usually up to 30 years. MORE: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051018/NEWS01/510180347/1010/RSS01
November 4, 200519 yr The following nine TIF districts have had funds created and will move forward by act of Ohio law. All passed by unanimous vote on 11/2/05, with the exception of councilman Smitherman, who voted no on all of them. They join the following districts, which were created December 2002: 1) Queensgate South; 2) Downtown South/Riverfront; 3) Downtown/OTR West; 4) Downtown/OTR East; 5) Center Hill/Carthage; 6) Walnut Hills; 7) East Walnut Hills; 8) CUF; 9) Corryville; 10) Bond Hill; 11) Evanston I have no idea what #12 is. WEST PRICE HILL INCENTIVE DISTRICT (District 13) West Price Hill Equivalent Fund 492 Supported by Price Hill Civic Club. Read West Price Hill TIF Plan (PDF, 10 pages) Existing Plans: 1) Western Hills Gateway: West Price Hill Covedale Business District Urban Renewal Plan (1998): To direct the future of this NBD * Traffic light at Glenway/Ralph intersection * West Price Hill Gateway improvements * Streetscape inprovements along Glenway corridor * North Overlook/Guerley parking consolidation * Southeast area parking consolidation * More off-street parking * Directional signs * Reduce curb cuts * Improve building facades Goals: 1) Public infrastructure improvements to bring new development (75%) 2) Home renovations to bring in new people and to spur private investment (25%) Qualifications: 1) Area blighted according to 1998 blight study Total market value of properties within TIF district: $21,691,700 RIVERSIDE/SEDAMSVILLE/PRICE HILL INCENTIVE DISTRICT (District 14) Price Hill Equivalent Fund 493 Supported by Price Hill Civic Club, Riverside Civic and Welfare Club, and the Sedamsville Civic Association. Read Price Hill TIF Plan (PDF, 43 pages) Existing Plans: 1) Sedamsville Neighborhood Plan (2003): Reduce the effects of physical and socio-economic decline, to stabilize the neighborhood and to strengthen the sense of community * Public facilities and infrastructure (parks and recreation) * Social and economic development (community services) * Housing * Safety * Design character 2) Riverside Strategic Community Plan (2002): A guide to development and improvements * Improve pedestrian safety on River Rd. * Improve the safety of the River Rd./Hillside Ave. intersection * Upgrading and improved access to the Gilday Recreation Complex * Decreasing pollution north of River Rd. * Reducing litter and addressing dilapidated structures * Developing Anderson Ferry area into a farmers' market and restaurant area * New construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of housing 3) East Price Hill Urban Design Plan (2000): To direct the future growth , development and preservation of the East Price Hill NBD * Rehab existing storefronts * Create gateway and signage * Streetscape improvements along Warsaw Ave. * Redevelop Kroger/Family Dollar site to connect with NBD * Incorporating buildings and vacant lots on north side of Warsaw between McPherson and Wells into a cultural center with community parking * Redeveloping the retaining wall, parking lot and bus stop at the IGA * Redeveloping vacant and blighted lots * Maintain historic character * Improve pedestrian safety * Improve traffic circulation and parking * Maintain/improve appearance, image and environment 4) Riverfront-Sedamsville Urban Renewal Plan: Focus Area 1 Conrail Site and Vicinity (1997): First studied to possibly provide space for produce retailers who were being dislocated from the riverfront * River Rd. improvements from Waldvogel Viaduct to Fairbanks Ave. * New roadway along the north side of the Conrail tracks Goals: 1) Public infrastructure improvements to bring new development (75%) 2) Home renovations to bring in new people and to spur private investment (25%) Qualifications: 1) 20.5% of persons living below the poverty level Total market value of properties within TIF district: $62,489,950 NOTE: After the power center is built off of River Rd. and all other specific projects are completed, and all revenues received have paid for infrastructure, all excess TIF revenues will be split evenly between East Price Hill, Riverside and Sedamsville. This came about as Riverside Civic and Welfare Club had reservations about their share of the TIF money and whether they would receive enough to implement their 2002 Strategic Plan. EAST PRICE HILL INCENTIVE DISTRICT (District 15) East Price Hill Equivalent Fund 494 Supported by the Price Hill Civic Club. Read East Price Hill TIF Plan (PDF, 43 pages) Existing Plans: 1) Seminary Square Eco-Village Work Plan (1999): Working through Imago Earth Center to build and to strengthen a sustainable community. There are four major green spaces in this plan. They are the Tot Lot, Tank Park, Dempsey Park and Whittier Garden. Goals: 1) Public infrastructure improvements to bring new development (75%) 2) Home renovations to bring in new people and to spur private investment (25%) Qualifications: 1) 25.1% of persons living below the poverty level 2) 5.6% unemployment Total market value of properties within TIF district: $91,381,080 LOWER PRICE HILL INCENTIVE DISTRICT (District 16) Lower Price Hill Equivalent Fund 495 Read Lower Price Hill TIF Plan (PDF, 39 pages) Existing Plans: 1) Lower Price Hill Industrial Area Urban Renewal Plan (2003): Returning vacant, underutilized or contaminated land back to productive uses to bring jobs and revenue to the city by: * Minimizing negative influences from blighted current properties or future industrial uses * Creating incentives for new development * Removing barriers to redevelopment * Assembling contiguous parcels where possible to facilitate large-scale redevelopment * Establish more cohesive relationships between land uses * Improve relationships between development sites, transportation and circulation systems Goals: 1) Public infrastructure improvements to bring new development (75%) 2) Home renovations to bring in new people and to spur private development (25%) Qualifications: 1) 31% of persons living below the poverty level 2) 7.1% unemployment Total market value of properties within TIF district: $32,749,800 WESTWOOD INCENTIVE DISTRICT (District 17) Westwood 1 Equivalent Fund 496 Read Westwood 1 TIF Plan (PDF, 14 pages) Existing Plans: 1) Westwood Neighborhood Business District Improvement Plan; Harrison NBD Urban Renewal Plan (2004): To preserve, correct, enhance and direct the future development of these corridors * Unifying the NBD through streetscape improvements * Landscaped buffers to buffer NBD from adjacent residential neighborhoods * New cooperative consolidated parking improvements * Demolition or reuse of specified buildings * Improving vehicular and pedestrian circulation * Enabling development and redevelopment within the NBD Goals: 1) Public infrastructure improvements to bring new development (75%) 2) Home renovations to bring in new people and to spur private development (25%) Qualifications: 1) Area blighted according to 2004 blight study Total market value of properties within TIF district: $16,216,600 WESTWOOD INCENTIVE DISTRICT (District 18) Westwood 2 Equivalent Fund 497 Read Westwood 2 TIF Plan (PDF, 50 pages) Existing Plans: 1) Westwood Strategic Plan (Draft): To address concerns of "creeping blight", especially in eastern part of neighborhood * Complete implementation of the Gobel/Bracken Woods Urban Renewal Plan * Implement the Harrison Ave. NBD urban renewal plan * Increase the number of single-family homes with new construction and the conversion of multi-family units * Address crime rate by increasing police presence * Address structures that don't meet code, especially along major arterials * Fix unkempt thouroughfares by assigning litter patrol to deal exclusively with Westwood and South Fairmount * Upgrade NBD * Upgrade gateways through public and private infrastructure improvements * Improve recreation facilities * Develop recreational facility for residents of East Westwood Goals: 1) Public infrastructure improvements to bring new development (75%) 2) Home renovations to bring in new people and to spur private development (25%) Qualifications: 1) 25% of persons living below poverty level 2) 5.8% unemployment Total market value of properties within TIF district: $98,904,170 MADISONVILLE INCENTIVE DISTRICT (District 19) Madisonville District Equivalent Fund 498 Read Madisonville TIF Plan (PDF, 38 pages) Existing Plans: 1) Madisonville NBD Urban Renewal Plan (2002): Redevelopment of the main business district on Madison Rd. * Mixed-use redevelopment at Madison and Whetsel * Redevelopment at SE corner of Whetsel and Sierra for a farmers' market or other commercial development * Rehabilitation of the New Life Temple Building, the former Grand Slam Restaurant and the Odd Fellows Building at Whetsel between Madison and Prentice * Adaptive re-use of the senior center at 5021 Whetsel Ave. * Job creation and retention * Blighted structures * Parking, Traffic circulation and pedestrian safety * Enhancements to the NBD's identity and image 2) Madisonville Industrial Corridor Urban Renewal Plan (1991) * Rezoning 3 acres of land opposite of Cincinnati Schroder, Inc. and just east of Old Red Bank * Replacement or residences in Corsica Hollow (disallowed by zoning) with industries * Residential development on the hilltop west and northwest of Macey Ave. * Industrial reuse, at 20 employees per acre, of Corsica Hollow, Oakley Drive-In property, sites along Hetzel and along southern Old Red Bank opposite Cincinnati Schroder * Adding one lane to Red Bank from Madison to Erie * Vacating Bush St. and Corsica Pl. * Cul-de-sac Hetzel St. and Charlemar Dr. * Filling areas in flood plains, especially in developable industrial areas Goals: 1) Public infrastructure improvements to bring new development (75%) 2) Home renovations to bring in new people and to spur private development (25%) Qualifications: 1) Area blighted according to 2005 blight study Total market value of properties within TIF district: $70,384,750 OAKLEY INCENTIVE DISTRICT (District 20) Oakley District Equivalent Fund 499 Read Oakley TIF Plan (PDF, 31 pages) Existing Plans: 1) Robertson Avenue Urban Renewal Plan (2001): Reduce land use conflicts and provide expansion opportunities for existing businesses * Extend Enyart Ave. from Madison to Brownway * Realign Robertson Ave. at Millsbrae Ave. * Create cul-de-sac at 28th St. * Create one-way traffic on segments of Enyart Ave. * Job creation and retention * Removal of blight * Enhance parking and traffic circulation * Rezoning and separating land uses 2) Oakley Urban Renewal Plan (2000): To direct the future growth, development and preservation of the Oakley Business District * Improve lighting * Provide traffic calming * Business recruitment and retention * Work with business owners to create proper tenant mix and to develop vacant properties * Provide bump-outs and other pedestrian-friendly measures * Create a gateway for the eastern side of the business district * Extend the esplanade to the west * Develop a focal point/image for the business district Goals: 1) Public infrastructure improvements to bring new development (75%) 2) Home renovations to bring in new people and to spur private development (25%) Qualifications: 1) Area blighted according to 2005 blight study Total market value of properties within TIF district: $99,646,400 AVONDALE INCENTIVE DISTRICT (District 21) Avondale District Equivalent Fund 468 Supported by the Avondale Community Council. Read Avondale TIF Plan (PDF, 37 pages) Existing Plans: 1) Burnet Avenue Urban Renewal Plan (Draft): To restore Burnet Ave. to its former glory as a thriving urban main street * Regain Burnet Ave. as a community-owned Main Street * Encourage employees to live in neighborhood * Gain access to spending power of employees of surrounding institutions on meals, services and entertainment * Tap into surrounding institutions' buying power Goals: 1) Public infrastructure improvements to bring new development (75%) 2) Home renovations to bring in new people and to spur private development (25%) Qualifications: 1) 61% of households have income less than 80% of the area's median annual income of $23,594 2) 35.6% of persons living below poverty level 3) 6.5% unemployment Total market value of properties within TIF district: $77,519,050
November 5, 200519 yr Wow this is some in-depth stuff. Another good find. I'm going to start scanning the PDFs. Thanks These TIFs should help eliminate the complaints that City Counsel is only interested in CBD and OTR. Now it's up to these neighborhood groups to work with developers to get these ideas rolling.
November 5, 200519 yr These TIFs should help eliminate the complaints that City Counsel is only interested in CBD and OTR. Well, I wish they were... jk!
November 5, 200519 yr Did anyone else see Smitherman's objections to these TIF districts? They made absolutely no sense and were wholly unsupported. First, he said they were bad public policy. (He never said why.) Then, he said they only made developers richer. (Can someone name a government project that doesn't? Someone always benefits.) What took the cake was when he claimed he supported project TIFs but not area TIFs as evidenced by his vote for the Banks TIF. But Cranley quickly smacked him down and reminded him that the Banks is an area TIF and not a project TIF. Anyway, I wanted to point that out as evidence against Smitherman's brillance just in case anyone was thinking of voting for him on Tuesday.
November 5, 200519 yr You are not alone on not understanding Smitherman's objections. It almost seemed as if someone told him that TIFs were bad policy and that's why he voted against them. It didn't seem like he gave them much thought himself.
October 29, 20195 yr The City is in the process of adding up to 15 new districts this year: https://choosecincy.com/2019TIFDistricts/#iLightbox[16e56cb82cea2666740]/0 “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
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