Title
RESOLUTION TO PUT FORWARD THE DDA DEVELOPMENT AND TIF PLANS TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION
Memorandum
TO: DDA Board
FROM: Maura Thomson, Executive Director, Ann Arbor DDA
SUBJECT: DDA Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan
The purpose of this memo is to outline key elements contained in the final draft of the DDA's proposed Development and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan. At the September 3, 2025 Board meeting the Board will vote to forward the Plan to City Council for consideration.
DDA PURPOSE - WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The pandemic illustrated that downtowns continue to be fragile and need support as they change and evolve. The DDA is the only funding tool the City has that is focused on supporting the downtown experience for all people and responding to evolving needs. Our work has been guided by a commitment to the City's values and using infrastructure investments as a tool to meet these needs.
CREATING A NEW DEVELOPMENT & TIF PLAN
The DDA is currently operating under a Plan established in 2003. A new Plan is necessary to respond to the evolving needs of downtown particularly in a post-pandemic world, to align with City goals and values, and to comply with updated statutory requirements. Work to create a new Plan began in June 2023. Multiple planning efforts, including the Downtown Area Circulation Study, the MDOT Jurisdictional Transfer Study, and the City's Comprehensive Plan, and public engagement efforts informed the proposed Plan. Through these efforts 150 projects and programs were identified and then prioritized using the City's CIP strategic value ranking system.
DDA BOUNDARY EXPANSION
Existing DDA Boundary
The DDA boundary was established in 1982 and consists of 67 blocks downtown. The DDA boundary must be contiguous.
Aligning DDA Boundary with Needs
Boundary exploration began by considering City values and priorities, infrastructure needs, and evolving trends adjacent to the existing DDA District. T...
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