Comprehensive Assessment of Land Value Capture Tools in the U.S.

Agency: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Morgner’s Role: Project Director (Dr. Julie Kim)

Project Description:

A comprehensive review and assessment was made of existing land value capture (LVC) tools in the U.S. and other emerging tools that have proven successful outside the U.S.

Project Director, Dr. Julie Kim recently completed a study to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of existing LVC tools in the U.S. and other emerging tools that have proven successful outside the U.S. As part of the study, Dr. Kim examined in detail the effectiveness of U.S. LVC tools, including tax increment financing (TIF), special assessments districts, Mello-Roos community facility districts (CFD), developer exactions (e.g., land dedications, impact fees, linkage fees, in-kind contributions), contract-based tools (e.g.,development agreements (DAs), community benefits agreements (CBAs)), other regulatory incentives (e.g., density bonuses, transferable development rights (TDRs)).

In addition to U.S. tools, Dr. Kim also identified emerging LVC outside the U.S. that have proven effective, including CEPAC certificates from Brazil, that allow local governments to sell additional development rights to private investors through “up-zoning” to generate new revenues to pay for affordable housing and support infrastructure.