Presenter
Presented by Ms. Payne
Title
Resolution directing the Mayor and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to convene working meetings with major Downtown stakeholder groups to examine future development incentives and tax abatement programs as a means to spur economic development for residential and office commercial office space and hotel opportunities downtown to create the new Pittsburgh "Shared Tax Abatement for Neighborhood Development" (STAND) District for Downtown; and further directing that recommendations be submitted in ordinance form as a critical part of the Mayor's vision for a new downtown development plan.
Body
WHEREAS, downtown Pittsburgh is the hub of the Southwestern Pennsylvania region and its economic strength and growth is vital to the entire region; and
WHEREAS, for the past 15 years the City of Pittsburgh has failed to redevelop our downtown core utilizing existing development incentives and tax abatement programs, and the need for new economic development tools is clear; and
WHEREAS, providing incentives for the creation of residential opportunities downtown will create the critical mass necessary to create a strong downtown neighborhood that will attract retail districts, commercial office space, entertainment venues, and recreational space; and
WHEREAS, cities across the Country, including Philadelphia, have created successful tax abatement programs to promote housing and commercial growth in downtown cores; and
WHEREAS, it is essential that the City of Pittsburgh provide development incentives and tax abatements that are fair and equal to all developers, big and small, and provide the actual incentive directly to the taxpayer, rather than through national retail chains.
Be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Directing the Mayor and the Urban Redevelopment Authority to form a working group comprised, in part, of the Downtown Neighborh...
Click here for full text