New Neighborhood Tax Break Locations in Providence to be Released

Kate Nagle, GoLocal Contributor

New Neighborhood Tax Break Locations in Providence to be Released

Who will be eligible for a neighborhood TSA? The City Council is slated to make that public over the course of the next several days.
The Providence City Council is slated to unveil the neighborhood zones for a new tax stabilization agreement (TSA) program for distressed areas of the city, following the unveiling last week of the 195 land TSA proposals.

"When we speak of economic development in terms of the city of Providence, it's always been a narrow conversation -- downtown, the Jewelry Districtt, 195," said City Council President Luis Aponte. "There's been little activity outside that area, in the neighborhoods."

"So under the neighborhood revitalization act, the city will take commercial and residential applications for areas that have been underserved, under-invested, and show the democratic indicators for poverty," continued Aponte.  "This is targeted towards neighborhoods that meet the criteria of disinvestment."

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Criteria Outlined, Opportunities Identified

Projects would need to have a project cost floor of $250,000 and a maximum ceiling of $3 million to be eligible for the neighborhood TSA.

"It would be 0% the first year, and then 20% a year until full tax -- roughly six years," said Aponte. 'The only thing we're awaiting is a map for the borders."

Aponte noted that Douglas Avenue, Smith Hill, and Cranston Street were areas under consideration. 'We've been looking at census tracts for indicators of poverty, so at least its going to be uniform in terms of opportunities."

The TSA proposal unveiled last week for 195 land is two-tiered, with projects over $10 million eligible for a 15-year tax stabilization agreement that with no taxes in the first year, base land tax only in years two through four, a 5% property tax in year five, and then a gradual annual increase for the remainder of the term; five 20-year TSAs would be for projects over $50 million will be eligible on a first come, first served basis, saying that offering this limited number of 20-year agreements for large projects would "provide incentive for early and expeditious development."

Aponte said that he's been contacted by businesses already who could be interested in the neighborhood program.

"At Cromwell and Elmwood, there's interest from an incubator for culinary businesses," said Aponte. "Again, we'll have the map finalized shortly as to where people are eligible for tax stabilization in neighborhoods in need." 


Current Tax Stabilization Agreements in Providence

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