Latz, Simon Propose Legislation To Spur Redevelopment

St. Louis Park Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44) wants to give businesses a break for upgrading old buildings.

 “This Old Shop” — as the legislation that Latz introduced Thursday is called — would give businesses a break on tax assessments that would likely increase with renovations and other investments into old buildings.

 The break would apply to buildings older than 45 years with a market value 0f $2 million or less. The tax assessment increases would be abated for 10 years and then phased back over a five-year period.

 The proposal is especially attractive to businesses at this point in time, Latz said, because of the economic downturn that has made credit and capital in short supply.

 SF0552 has been forwarded to the Senate Taxes Committee.

Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-District 44A), of St. Louis Park, introduced the House counterpart on Thursday as well. HF0877 was referred to the House Taxes Committee.

Simon said he thinks the bill is important for cities like St. Louis Park, where finding open real estate for new construction can be difficult.

 “In our area, it’s all about redevelopment,” he said.

 The representative added that he thinks the bill would remove the fear of being “punished” from a tax standpoint for adding onto a property.

Here’s what happened this past week with other bills authored or co-authored by your legislators:

 Rep. Steve Simon

•  Joined a bill authored by Rep. Keith Downey (R-District 41A) that would create a four-year pilot program allowing school districts to experiment with operating jointly to more efficiently deliver services. HF0755 was introduced Feb. 28 and referred to the Education Reform Committee.

•  Joined a bill authored by Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-District 48A) that would appropriate roughly $6.5 million in funding to metro area regional parks in 2012 and 2013. HF0824 was introduced Thursday and referred to the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee.

Sen. Ron Latz

• Joined a bill authored by Sandra Pappas (DFL-District 65) that would limit the number of former legislators that could serve on the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents at once to one. SF0534 was introduced on Thursday and referred to the Higher Education Committee.
• Joined a bill authored by Pappas that would establish, in certain cases, the use of the weight of fluid used in a water pipe when determining the weight or amount of a controlled substance. SF0502 was introduced on Feb. 28 and referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

Rep. Ryan Winkler

• Authored a bill that would prohibit a motor vehicle dealer from selling a service contract from an unregistered provider. HF0737 was introduced Feb. 28 and referred to the Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee.
• Authored a bill that would change the technical definition of a "legislative day." HF0736 was introduced Feb. 28 and referred to the Government Operations and Elections Committee.
• Authored a bill that would allow voters to vote absentee without providing any type of justification, such as illness. HF0732 was introduced Feb. 28 and referred to the Government Operations and Elections Committee. Also introduced a bill that would provide for "early voting." HF0733 was introduced Feb. 28 and referred to the Government Operations and Elections Committee.