Bob Logue

PGH. TAX BREAKS FOR WEALTHY?

DEVELOPER WANTS 'TAX BREAKS' FOR WEALTHY TO MOVE INTO DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH, WHILE MIDDLE AND LOWER INCOME FOLKS LOSE THEIR HOME TO HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES. MAYOR O'CONNOR IS CONSIDERING. HAS HE CONSIDERED THE DAMAGE PROPERTY TAXES ARE DOING TO THE REST OF PITTSBURGH'S CITIZENS? WE SUGGEST YOU LET MAYOR O'CONNOR KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS!--BOB LOGUE, S.T.O.P.

Envisioning Downtown

By Jeremy Boren
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, March 4, 2006

A national developer's role in building retail space and residential living Downtown appears to be fading as a local developer charges ahead with a master plan to invigorate Pittsburgh's depleted core.

Lucas Piatt, vice president of Washington County-based Millcraft Industries, said the former Lazarus building his company is developing into retail and luxury residential space is part of a master Downtown development plan he wants to show Mayor Bob O'Connor in two weeks.
<SNIPPED FOR BREVITY>

Piatt, who attended the breakfast with his father, Jack Piatt -- the founder and chairman of Millcraft -- called on O'Connor to offer tax incentives to people who want to buy apartments and condos Downtown.

They also want to see the city's 50 percent parking tax drastically reduced so people will come from out of town to shop in Piatt's building, which Lucas Piatt called a "regional destination." The building would contain 25 luxury condos, 20 roof-top townhouses, 50,000 square feet of retail space and 180,000 square feet of office space.

O'Connor pointed out the city's parking tax is scheduled to decrease in 2007, but he was hesitant to give up any real estate tax revenues that would help financially strapped Pittsburgh.

"It's a very tough struggle, because our budget is on the nickel right now," O'Connor said. "I've got to be very careful with incentives. I'm not saying no, but I'm being very cautious." (END QUOTE FROM TRIBUNE REVIEW ARTICLE)

____Reply Separator_____COMMENTS FROM CITIZEN TOM KANHOFER ARE BELOW

So, Piatt wants people who can afford to buy luxury condos and roof-top townhouses in downtown Pittsburgh to get "tax incentives"! I would think that there are people far more deserving of "tax incentives" to own a home than the rich.

But there is a bright side to this proposal. If a property tax break is needed to attract the rich to the area, then wouldn't it make sense to have a property tax break, better yet the abolishment of property taxes to attract all classes of people, families to the area.

Jeremy, I suggest you report on the S.T.O.P. plan, a plan developed and PROVEN to be the means of eliminating all property taxes on homestead and farmstead properties.

Read the legislation for yourself at www.grandoldusa.com

Visitor Comments:

Joe Lehigh County says :
Pennsylvania has 501 School Districts. Is the Northwestern Lehigh School District the only district that has experienced a 7% and a 10.7% tax increase over the past two years? S.T.O.P. Supporters, please educate me. The Senate and the House are now organizing a commission, so that a compromise can occur. If it was not so sad, it would be funny! I think its called Leadership!
Dave in PGH says :
There is some merit to part of this request. The parking taxes in PGH are heinous; probably some of the highest in the country.

If the city council and mayor had the stones to make parking free downtown, you might actually see people there after 6pm shopping; spending money, buying things that have sales taxes which more than make up for the lost parking revenue.

This is one of the few cities I have lived in where almost nobody resides downtown. It is a ghost town and will remain so until our elected officials get their act together.
Anonymous says :
Nothing but CORPORATE WELFARE on the backs of the MIDDLE-CLASS. I was just in Cleveland for the week and their downtown district is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, thier tax dollars are hard-at-work. Offices, apartments, and green space, makes PGH looks like a dumpsite! Nothing but the status quo here, MORE RETAIL IS NOT OUR ANSWER! Wheres our money going? Into the pockets of the politicians and well-connected developers!
Confiscate from the people and give to the rich. Oh PNC you want 18 million in a TIF.. OK! 30 million in State Grants.. OK! What a bunch of crap...Give me some of MY MONEY back and let me prosper!
PGH is the most small business unfriendly and non-profit saturated community if ever seen... sucking the life out of our region.


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