URBAN RENEWAL URBAN RENEWAL THROUGH B&O TAX THROUGH B&O TAX

CREDITS CREDITS Presented by Tim GentilozziPresented by Tim Gentilozzi

2009 Candidate for Clarksburg City Council 2009 Candidate for Clarksburg City Council Read more at my website: www.clarksburg.comRead more at my website: www.clarksburg.com

GOALS OF PROGRAMGOALS OF PROGRAM

Create an incentive for families, Create an incentive for families, investors and business people to investors and business people to invest in Clarksburginvest in Clarksburg

Protect the areas around our schools Protect the areas around our schools and parksand parks

Reinvest in and renovate blighted Reinvest in and renovate blighted areasareas

Revitalize our downtown and protect Revitalize our downtown and protect our historical structures/landmarksour historical structures/landmarks

Change the perception of ClarksburgChange the perception of Clarksburg

Create an IncentiveCreate an Incentive Reward investors who take risks.Reward investors who take risks. Provide a $1 for $1 tax credit for every $1 invested into Provide a $1 for $1 tax credit for every $1 invested into

remodeling or building structures/ starting businesses within remodeling or building structures/ starting businesses within certain parts of our city (exclude major shopping areas located on certain parts of our city (exclude major shopping areas located on I-79 as THF Realty already benefited from a similar program not I-79 as THF Realty already benefited from a similar program not yet offered to others).yet offered to others).

Provide a $2 for $1 tax credit for every $1 invested into Provide a $2 for $1 tax credit for every $1 invested into remodeling or building structures/businesses within designated remodeling or building structures/businesses within designated “blighted areas” and around schools and parks.“blighted areas” and around schools and parks.

Provide a $3 for $1 tax credit to investors who purchase Provide a $3 for $1 tax credit to investors who purchase dilapidated or condemned structures as defined by Clarksburg’s dilapidated or condemned structures as defined by Clarksburg’s Code Enforcement and either raze, remodel or build new. This will Code Enforcement and either raze, remodel or build new. This will save the city significant money in razing, administrative, legal and save the city significant money in razing, administrative, legal and maintenance expense. maintenance expense.

Exclude the purchase price of the property when calculating the Exclude the purchase price of the property when calculating the tax credit so only purchases of property in need of significant tax credit so only purchases of property in need of significant renovation/investment would really benefit from the program. renovation/investment would really benefit from the program. This would also eliminate the practice of “shell sales” where This would also eliminate the practice of “shell sales” where owners would conduct sales amongst related entities in order to owners would conduct sales amongst related entities in order to get the tax credit.get the tax credit.

Protect our Schools and ParksProtect our Schools and Parks An American Institute of Architects report in 2005 “Schools as An American Institute of Architects report in 2005 “Schools as

Catalysts for Community Development” wrote that schools play a Catalysts for Community Development” wrote that schools play a critical role in rebuilding America’s cities. They state that no critical role in rebuilding America’s cities. They state that no public or private building type is as important as a school.public or private building type is as important as a school.

Create a special zone around schools and parks increasing the tax Create a special zone around schools and parks increasing the tax credit ($2 for $1) similar to blighted areas will help ensure that we credit ($2 for $1) similar to blighted areas will help ensure that we protect these designated areas from becoming eyesores like the protect these designated areas from becoming eyesores like the area around WIMS.area around WIMS.

Perception that Bridgeport schools are superior is part of the Perception that Bridgeport schools are superior is part of the reason that Clarksburg is not drawing young families and reason that Clarksburg is not drawing young families and investment into its neighborhoods. Making a conscious effort to investment into its neighborhoods. Making a conscious effort to protect our schools and parks will only help change that protect our schools and parks will only help change that perception. perception.

We need to change this perception immediately by being We need to change this perception immediately by being aggressive in our demolition efforts around schools and parks, and aggressive in our demolition efforts around schools and parks, and also by offering a tax incentive to invest in these areas.also by offering a tax incentive to invest in these areas.

A combined plan of demolition along with tax credits may create A combined plan of demolition along with tax credits may create headlines “Clarksburg Working to Improve Areas Around Local headlines “Clarksburg Working to Improve Areas Around Local Schools and Parks”.Schools and Parks”.

Reinvest Back in Blighted AreasReinvest Back in Blighted Areas

Identify areas of blight and declare them as such, and include all Identify areas of blight and declare them as such, and include all condemned structures as areas of blight.condemned structures as areas of blight.

Offer a $2 for $1 tax credit for every $1 spent to raze, remodel or Offer a $2 for $1 tax credit for every $1 spent to raze, remodel or build a structure, or start a business in these designated areas and build a structure, or start a business in these designated areas and a $3 for $1 tax credit for investments in condemned structures no a $3 for $1 tax credit for investments in condemned structures no matter where they are located within the city.matter where they are located within the city.

Providing a $3 for $1 tax credit to investors who purchase Providing a $3 for $1 tax credit to investors who purchase dilapidated or condemned structures as defined by Clarksburg’s dilapidated or condemned structures as defined by Clarksburg’s Code Enforcement will save the city significant money in the razing, Code Enforcement will save the city significant money in the razing, administrative, legal and maintenance costs associated with the administrative, legal and maintenance costs associated with the demolition of these properties and provide an incentive for demolition of these properties and provide an incentive for investors to invest in condemned properties.investors to invest in condemned properties.

Create a marketing plan and work with local realtors in order to Create a marketing plan and work with local realtors in order to market the program. List all properties owned by the City (ie: market the program. List all properties owned by the City (ie: Adamston Flat Glass) or owned by private owners willing to Adamston Flat Glass) or owned by private owners willing to participate in the program in order to provide a conduit for participate in the program in order to provide a conduit for investors to find and purchase properties located in designated investors to find and purchase properties located in designated blighted areas.blighted areas.

Revitalize Our Downtown-Protect Revitalize Our Downtown-Protect Historical Structures/Landmarks Historical Structures/Landmarks

Much of downtown still contains aging structures that need Much of downtown still contains aging structures that need significant investment. Any investment in these structures helps significant investment. Any investment in these structures helps preserve and revitalize our downtown. Provide a $1 for $1 tax preserve and revitalize our downtown. Provide a $1 for $1 tax credit for investing in the downtown business district.credit for investing in the downtown business district.

Provide $2 for $1 tax credit on renovations of all designated Provide $2 for $1 tax credit on renovations of all designated historical structures located in the downtown like the Waldo and historical structures located in the downtown like the Waldo and Robinson Grand Theater.Robinson Grand Theater.

Relax the fire codes on aging structures as enforcement of the Relax the fire codes on aging structures as enforcement of the current codes in impossible as it would force the closure of most of current codes in impossible as it would force the closure of most of our taller(3 stories and up) buildings downtown.our taller(3 stories and up) buildings downtown.

Having these codes on the books but not enforcing them only Having these codes on the books but not enforcing them only stifles new investment as investors may be concerned these codes stifles new investment as investors may be concerned these codes may be arbitrarily enforced against them. The risk of enforcement may be arbitrarily enforced against them. The risk of enforcement alone is enough to scare off most, prudent investors as the cost of alone is enough to scare off most, prudent investors as the cost of compliance would make most of their investments unprofitable.compliance would make most of their investments unprofitable.

Provide a special, increased tax credit to larger businesses who Provide a special, increased tax credit to larger businesses who locate in the downtown area as other businesses downtown locate in the downtown area as other businesses downtown depend on the foot traffic. This is especially important due to the depend on the foot traffic. This is especially important due to the loss of Steptoe and Johnson the near future. loss of Steptoe and Johnson the near future.

Change the perception Change the perception Cleaning up our city and the areas around our schools and Cleaning up our city and the areas around our schools and

parks will only improve the perception people have of parks will only improve the perception people have of Clarksburg.Clarksburg.

Create an environment where investment is rewarded.Create an environment where investment is rewarded. We need a demolition program that has well defined goals We need a demolition program that has well defined goals

and objectives like the WIMS campus expansion project. and objectives like the WIMS campus expansion project. Remember some of your children and grandchildren attend Remember some of your children and grandchildren attend or will attend these schools.or will attend these schools.

Revitalizing and reinvesting in our downtown will only make Revitalizing and reinvesting in our downtown will only make our community more attractive to prospective business our community more attractive to prospective business owners and their patrons.owners and their patrons.

Learn to work together. Have well defined goals and Learn to work together. Have well defined goals and develop a marketing plan necessary to achieve these goals.develop a marketing plan necessary to achieve these goals.

We can no longer sit back, squabble and hope that We can no longer sit back, squabble and hope that something good happens in our city. We need an something good happens in our city. We need an aggressive, bold plan that will facilitate investment in our aggressive, bold plan that will facilitate investment in our city.city.

VOTE FOR TIM GENTILOZZIVOTE FOR TIM GENTILOZZI Promise to work hard to make sure our community Promise to work hard to make sure our community

improves in all areas.improves in all areas. Will concentrate my efforts on economic Will concentrate my efforts on economic

revitalization and historic preservation.revitalization and historic preservation. Special emphasis will be placed on efforts designed Special emphasis will be placed on efforts designed

to improve the areas around our schools and parks.to improve the areas around our schools and parks. Promise to treat everyone with respect no matter Promise to treat everyone with respect no matter

what their position is on the issues presented what their position is on the issues presented before the City Council.before the City Council.

Please support my efforts. Call me directly at 304-Please support my efforts. Call me directly at 304-669-5826, visit my website at 669-5826, visit my website at www.clarksburg.comwww.clarksburg.com or e-mail me at or e-mail me at tg@iolinc.nettg@iolinc.net. Your support is the . Your support is the key to our success. Thank you for your time.key to our success. Thank you for your time.