Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

Shopping malls were once a staple of American culture, but with consumers seeking out online shopping and the closure of stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many shopping malls and plazas have been left vacant and leave an eyesore for the surrounding community. Municipalities have proposed revitalizing shopping malls into mixed-use development communities, but developers see these projects as very costly and are hesitant to take on such a vast job.
 
My legislation will provide incentives for municipalities and developers to work together to redevelop existing shopping malls into mixed-use communities by accomplishing the following:
 

• Requiring the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to establish an outreach program to make municipalities aware of available assistance for the mixed-use redevelopment of a shopping mall
• Establishing a tax abatement program that authorizes local taxing authorities to provide special tax provisions following the redevelopment of a shopping mall into a mixed-use community
• Creating a tax credit for businesses located in a redeveloped mixed-use community
• Organizing a grant program to help modernize infrastructure for the redevelopment site, funded by the Shopping Mall Infrastructure Fund
• Reinvesting tax revenues generated by businesses in the redevelopment site into the Shopping Mall Infrastructure Fund  

 
Municipalities deserve a fair shot at redeveloping outdated properties. Pennsylvania has a need for quality and affordable housing, this bill provides options to help solve these challenges.  Please join me as we partner with municipalities and stakeholders to repurpose shopping malls and plazas and improve the quality of life for our communities.