City leaders in Tuscaloosa are focusing on encouraging more development on the city’s west side and in other parts of the community.
The Tuscaloosa News reports plans involve luring new investors and development to west Tuscaloosa as well as eastern and southern areas of the city that have been neglected or fallen from favor.
The proposal would make changes to the city council’s economic incentive policies, allowing businesses that move to a currently underserved area to enjoy the same incentives as “new to market” businesses. The changes would also encourage renovating abandoned buildings, occupying currently-vacant space, and removing blight.
City Councilman Kip Tyner, whose district stands to benefit from some of the proposed changes, says “this is one of the most exciting things the city has done in a long time.”
The council is expected to decide within the next couple of weeks whether to proceed with the plans or offer changes.