4% PILOT ordinance

Speaking for Capital Area Housing Partnership, strongly supported the 4% PILOT as critical financing infrastructure for affordable housing.

Speaking for Sunara Community Development, argued the PILOT gives developers the financing certainty Lansing needs to compete for affordable housing investment.

Opposed the ordinance as bad for taxpayers, citing tax-foreclosure pressures on seniors and deplorable conditions she sees daily in low-income housing.

Said even a homeowner with a paid-off house struggles with property taxes, and called automatic 4% PILOTs disingenuous — arguing developers should justify every tax break before council.

Strongly opposed the 4% PILOT, citing deplorable conditions in existing affordable housing and arguing the city can't afford to keep giving developers tax breaks.

Real estate director for Capital Area Housing Partnership; said the 4% PILOT was essential to the Walter French project and the ordinance gives developers needed predictability.

Questioned whether the ordinance would actually produce more affordable housing and asked for evidence from other cities and more public oversight.

Senior VP at Loda Cooper Companies; said 4% PILOTs are essential to making projects work today and estimated $78,800/year savings for their proposed Brightwood Crossing project.

Said the ordinance doesn't go far enough and advocated petitioning the state for a land value tax instead.

Longtime PILOT critic; said fewer than 20% of PILOTs achieve their goals and the ordinance removes individual public oversight of each approval.