MOUNTAIN VISTA

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA

In 2011, the Provo Redevelopment Agency created a new community development project area (CDA) on portions of the former Ironton steel mill site in southeast Provo. The area is now known as the Mountain Vista Business Park and is the home of a growing number of light manufacturing and other businesses.  Click on the links to see a map and description of the new project area. 

CENTER STREET

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA

On June 18, 2013, the governing board of the Redevelopment Agency of Provo City will hold a public hearing on a Provo City Redevelopment Agency proposal to create a new Center Street Community Development Project Area (CDA). Creating this Project Area is the first step, specified in Utah law, toward being able to continue the use of tax increment financing in the area of downtown Provo from 600 West to 200 East, 100 North to 100 South. Provo City believes it is important to take this step now so that, as specific redevelopment projects come along in this area in the future, the City can at least consider using tax increment, along with other possible tools, to bring these projects to fruition for the benefit of the community, the local economy, and the growth of the tax base upon which local government agencies rely in providing services to their residents.

Tax increment financing (TIF) is a mechanism established in Title 17C of Utah State law to help finance economic development as well as redevelopment of declining areas. It has been used multiple times in Provo since the 1970s. Cities, working through their community development and renewal agencies (sometimes known as redevelopment agencies) can incentivize new development with TIF. It allows the redevelopment Agency, with the permission of the school district, county, and other agencies which levy a property tax on the property in question, to use part of the increased tax revenue caused by the new development to offset extraordinary costs of the new development for a set number of years. The idea is that the new development would not take place without this offset of extraordinary costs. After the agreed-upon number of years are past, all property tax generated by the redeveloped property goes back to being paid to the taxing entities, so they enjoy a boost in their tax revenues from the new development for years to come.

TIF does not impose a property tax hike for anyone. The redeveloped property pays the same  increased tax they would have paid by virtue of simply increasing the value of the property. TIF provides a way to help offset some of the cost of the redevelopment, in order to persuade the developer to redevelop the property.

The June 18 public hearing is about creating a community development project area (CDA) where TIF may then be employed. It is a first step, opening the door to the property taxing entities being able to use TIF for future development projects in the CDA. However, this step does not bind the taxing entities to use of future property tax in any way. Later on, before any of the property tax increment could be used to bring about new development, the Redevelopment Agency would need to bring the taxing entities a specific project proposal for their consideration, and they would need to agree and to voluntarily approve an interlocal agreement with the Provo Redevelopment Agency consenting to that use of the tax increment. Without a taxing entity’s consent at that point, its tax increment could not be employed in this way. However, by creating the CDA on June 18, Provo will have met the first step set forth in State law.

The proposed Center Street CDA will cover much the same territory included in the existing Central Business District Redevelopment Project Area, adopted in the 1970s. Ability to use TIF in the Central Business District Area expires after 2015. Provo City believes there is more yet to do in the downtown, including some things which may justify TIF again – hence, the City’s consideration of establishing a new CDA at this time.

Please see the links to a copy of the draft Center Street Community Development Project Area Plan and area map, which are up for consideration at the June 18 hearing. There is also a link to the hearing notice. For further information, please contact Paul Glauser at the Redevelopment Agency of Provo City, 801-852-6167, Mon.-Thurs. 7 a.m. -6 p.m.