Author: Smart City Memphis

As Shelby County officials grapple with their limited options to reduce the burden on local property taxpayers, it’s worth remembering that the Tennessee Legislature has allowed other places to enact impact fees. For about...

It’s been almost an exact year since Memphis Mayor Willie W. Herenton convened a group of civic leaders to hear his presentation – the most thorough, documented and intelligent one given in this community – on a possible...

Portland, Oregon, is one of our favorite cities. More importantly, it’s one of America’s most progressive, most innovative ones. That’s been proven in its leadership for smart growth, for regional planning and financing, for...

From Fortune:ROUGHLY 200,000 Americans will sleep rough tonight; many have done so for years. The fact that this is happening in the richest country in history is a travesty. But you know that. You’ve heard it again and...

Following up our last post about TIF, how about another alphabet approach that could be a positive addition to Memphis’ tools for the future? It’s a BID.To recap, we’re suggesting that our economic and community development...

It’s time to resurrect tax increment financing (TIF) as a possible incentive for economic growth in Memphis and Shelby County and as an alternative to our overreliance on tax freezes.The TIF is the favored business incentive in...

Memphis loves its neighborhoods.All prevailing political conjecture to the contrary, there is no argument that the thread that runs through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey of the Memphis MSA is our...

Ok, we admit that downtown panhandling is a hot button issue for us, so we were doing our best to support the latest anti-panhandling campaign rolled out by Memphis Police Department, Center City Commission and others.Our...

Frequently, a government agency does something that just makes you shake your head and wonder, “Do they really think we’re that stupid?”That’s a regular reaction when it comes to the actions of the Memphis and Shelby County...

Temple Israel Senior Rabbi Micah Greenstein spoke at Calvary Episcopal Church’s Lenten Luncheons last week on Earth Day. You can hear it at: http://www.calvaryjc.org/homiliesLent/20060321.htmlHere’s an abridged text...