Why is Chicago Always Talking About TIF?
Mayor Brandon Johnson recently announced a plan to borrow $1.25 billion for housing and development investments and pay the debt by letting TIF districts expire. TIF, or tax increment financing, allows cities to use property taxes in designated areas to fund development in those areas. The number of Chicago’s TIF districts has grown dramatically since first used in the 1980s, and at one point, about a third of the city’s area was covered by one. So we asked University of Illinois Chicago urban planning professor and TIF expert Rachel Weber how exactly do TIFs work, has Chicago over relied on them, and can Mayor Johnson’s plan produce more equitable investments?
Good News: Chicago Public Library Maker-in-Residence
Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.
Follow us @citycastchicago
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246
Become a member of City Cast Chicago.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Latest Episodes
From City Cast Denver: Introducing ‘Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose’
Hey there! We are excited to share the trailer for a new special limited series from our friends and colleagues at City Cast Denver. If you’...
New DCFS Director, Pulitzer Prize Winners, and Happy Mother’s Day
After an eight-day pro-Palestinian protest at University of Chicago, police cleared the encampment on early Tuesday. Invisible Institute’s T...
How Footwork Rose from Chicago Concrete
Summer dance season is almost here. And if Taylor Bennett’s new single “2 Much” is any indication, Footwork is going to be a big part of sum...
The 3 Unwritten Rules of Chicago Farmers Markets
It’s farmers market season, and we’re here to talk about what you need to know to make the best of it. Executive producer Simone Alicea and ...
Chicago Casino’s Future, College Protests Continue, and Happy Teacher Day!
Pro-Palestinian protests have continued at several college campuses across Chicago despite an increased presence of police and counter-prote...
What to Know About Cicadas in Chicago
You might not hear them yet, but cicadas have already started emerging in Illinois. Over the next few weeks, overlapping broods are expected...
Campus Protests Grow, Blues Destination Reopens, and Kendrick Fires Back!
This week as pro-Palestinian protests picked up on campuses across the country, Chicago area students also began setting up encampments dema...
What Young People Need From Chicago
Applications are now open for the Mayor’s Youth Commission, a group of Chicagoans ages 14 to 19 who work to advise the mayor and city leader...
Your Guide to May in Chicago
If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Chicago c...
Possible CTA Merger, Foxtrot Lawsuit, and New Birria Deep-Dish
State lawmakers are considering a proposal that would merge CTA and other regional transit agencies. Executive producer Simone Alicea and pr...