Riverdale RDA approves $45.6 million West Bench budget amendment to support America First campus

The Riverdale Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously on Sept. 16 to amend the West Bench redevelopment-area budget, approving resolution R 2025-07 to provide 80% tax-increment participation over a 20-year period not to exceed $45,591,683. The board approved the measure during a public hearing at the Riverdale City Hall RDA meeting.

The amendment raises the project-area budget from about $9 million to $45.59 million and extends the participation period from 17 years to 20 years. Agency staff said the additional funds are intended to pay for transportation and utility infrastructure needed to support new commercial development, including a multi-building campus proposed by America First Credit Union.

Brandon Cooper, the RDA staff member who presented the amendment, told the board the proposal responds to recent development interest in the West Bench and showed renderings and an infrastructure list used to estimate needed improvements. “We are looking at an amendment to the existing West Bench redevelopment area… taking it from a 100% participation to 80% and taking it from 17 years to 20 years with a max budget of $45,591,683,” Cooper said during his presentation.

Why it matters: the West Bench district, created in 2005 with a base year of 2011, covers roughly 74 acres of largely vacant land the city has sought to develop for years. RDA staff said tax-increment financing (TIF) is the primary way to pay for…