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Mount Vernon housing council hears report: 74 permits filed in 2023 and 12 new tax abatements placed
Summary
At a Mount Vernon Housing Council meeting, Sam Filkins of the Area Development Foundation reported 74 permits filed in 2023 for new housing, with 12 property tax abatements active for the current tax period; the council was informed its role is to receive reports and hear appeals but does not have authority to grant abatements.
Mount Vernon — At a meeting of the Mount Vernon Housing Council, Sam Filkins, vice president of the Area Development Foundation, reported on the citywide Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) program and recent housing permit activity, saying 74 permits were filed in 2023 and that “in total, that means that we've had 12 new abatements put into place for this tax period.”
Filkins, who presented a packet of permits and summary figures, told the council the CRA is focused on infill development and that not every permit filed automatically qualified for an abatement because projects must be complete by Jan. 1 to be included for that tax year. “All of these projects should, qualify for an abatement,” Filkins said, and he explained that some projects listed as “NC” (not complete as of 01/24) will be reevaluated next year.
Nut graf: The report illustrated local housing investment since the CRA’s adoption and clarified the council’s limited role. Filkins said the CRA appears to be prompting more building inside city limits even as financing costs have risen, and he provided multi-year totals showing substantial private investment tied to permits.
Key figures and program details Filkins provided these figures, as recorded in the meeting: 74 permits filed in 2023 for new housing; five projects were completed and eligible for abatements as of Jan. 1 for this review cycle; a total of 12 new abatements are on the tax rolls for the current tax period after a number of previously incomplete projects finished construction. Filkins also reported roughly $19,000,000 of investment on the subset of projects in the current packet (56 units noted in the packet) and a three‑year total for new housing investment of about $37,570,000; all permits across categories over three years totaled about $117,800,000.
Filkins clarified that some multifamily abatements are negotiated individually (he cited the Rockford development as an example) and that large projects often pay a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) directly to local schools, which can make the effective tax benefit appear smaller on paper. He said Rockford projects are leasing quickly and that negotiated abatements are intended to attract early investment.
Council role, appeals and reporting Members asked about the council’s authority. Council member identified in the transcript as “Mr. Ford” asked whether the report affects the review commission. Filkins replied, “So it'll get reported at TURC. You actually do not have the authority to say whether or not something should count or should not count,” and added that if projects meet the program rules they receive abatements by right. The transcript also records Filkins saying the auditor’s office marks property cards with percent-complete information and that partial completion can trigger partial taxation before full completion.
Historic properties and extended abatements The group discussed historic properties and how owners outside an existing historic district may apply for historic status to obtain an additional 10-year abatement. Filkins summarized the eligibility pathway as mirroring the National Register process, requiring a narrative showing architectural significance, a notable resident, or a significant event tied to the property. He noted that many Mount Vernon houses are older than 50 years and could qualify for historic consideration if the required documentation is provided.
Administrative details and next steps Filkins said the packet and a master spreadsheet track outstanding projects and that six or seven projects that were incomplete at the previous meeting have since finished construction and received abatements. He said the packet would be reported to the review commission (referred to in the discussion as TURC/TURK) and ultimately to city council as part of normal reporting; the council’s role is limited to receiving reports and hearing any appeals from property owners.
The meeting concluded without further formal action on abatements. The transcript records a motion to adjourn that was seconded and approved (the call for the vote produced an “Aye” and the chair declared the meeting adjourned).
