Opinion

Misuse of TIFs

Posted April 20, 2020 1:00 am

I see that Arlington Heights is pursuing a TIF to "spur redevelopment at the southern gateway to town." Kind of like Buffalo Grove is considering a TIF to enhance it's Lake-Cook Rd. "corridor." Southern Gateway? Corridor? Give me a break. These are concrete slabs designed to move traffic, not grand promenades.

"Southern gateway' and "corridor" are terms designed to make us think that these areas are woefully less than they can be and as such, we should support a TIF. TIF was designed to encourage development in blighted neighborhoods. These communities are not blighted. If developers don't see a viable economic opportunity to invest in these areas without the public subsidy of a TIF, then its likely that the investment is not a wise one.

Gerry Shacter

Buffalo Grove

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