As Kansas City tears down a great deal of history . . . Here's a sign that this trend will continue. On the bright side, potential cuts will stall a great many speculative projects like the new Kemper arena debacle:
Missouri Task Force Recommends Major Cuts To Historic Tax Credit Program
A task force established by Gov. Greitens to examine state tax credit policy has returned with recommendations that preservationists say would substantially cut the historic tax credit program and make it much more difficult to utilize. The task force is recommending the historic tax credit program be lumped together with the brownfield tax credit program and both capped at $50 million annually.
This is yet another example of a good idea and valuable program that is regularly abused and twisted beyond any recognition of its original purpose, just like TIF's, TDD's, and a long list of other "eco devo incentives".
ReplyDeleteIf municipal jurisdictions approved and administered these programs responsibly, the state would most likely not find it necessary to step in and provide some controls and restraints.
Next they should address the outrageous voting charade being used for the streetcar expansion and give voters opportunities to express their positions by going the the polling place and actually voting.
KCMO is a great example of irresponsible insider under-the-table abuse of these statutes.
A little adult supervision should go a long way.
4:10 - how is this a municipal issue? Historic Tax Credits are issued through the state, not the municipality. Additionally, HTC's are not even close to what a TIF is and are even further away from what a TDD is. The Newshound gets your ballot issues with the streetcar expansion but I believe you're totally off the mark on HTC's. Can point to a number of projects that would not have been done were it not for HTC's and the surrounding community is much better for it. (specifically a couple of apartment projects in the Scarritt Renaissance neighborhood) This, believe it or not is not one of those programs that is fraught with abuse given the checks and balances in place through the state's Department of Natural Resources, the department charged with the state's historic preservation program.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense because both our past and present black mayors especially the cleave tore down 80% of the historic buildings in this city
ReplyDeleteThe airport terminal is over forty years old.
ReplyDeleteLet's use every tool at our disposal.
One person's "worthwhile" project is just someone else's, in this case the taxpayers', abuse.
OK - here's the plan: Knock down every single, stinking building that isn't a glass box. Turn it into a parking lot or a vacant lot or a dump site. Sounds awful, doesn't it? But in 5-10 years it will happen. Bet on it.
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