ORDINANCE designating a contiguous geographic area within the City of Houston located in the Sunnyside and Southpark neighborhoods of Houston and generally bounded by the Interstate Highway 610 on the north, Fuqua Street on the south, Cullen Street on the east, and State Highway 288 on the west as Reinvestment Zone Number Twenty-six, City of Houston, Texas (Sunnyside Zone), for Tax Increment Financing purposes pursuant to Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code; creating a Board of Directors for such Zone - DISTRICT D - BOYKINS

SUBJECT:  An Ordinance designating a contiguous area of the City of Houston as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Twenty-Six (Sunnyside Zone).   

RECOMMENDATION: (Summary)

City Council adopt an ordinance designating a contiguous geographic area within the City of Houston as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Twenty-Six (Sunnyside Zone).  

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:

Pursuant to Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code, a public hearing was held on November 4, 2015 regarding the designation of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone known as the Sunnyside Zone for tax increment financing purposes. The proposed zone contains approximately 3,142 acres of land (4.9 square miles). The contiguous boundary can be described generally as a western boundary of SH 288, a northern boundary of Loop 610, an eastern boundary of Cullen, and a southern boundary of Fuqua.

The City has prepared a preliminary reinvestment zone financing plan for the proposed zone. The tentative plans for the development of the TIRZ include the expenditure of public funds for eligible project costs including the planning, engineering and construction of new streets, water distribution facilities, wastewater collection facilities, storm drainage improvements, roadway and street reconstruction projects, cultural and public facility improvements, parks and other related improvements. The 2015 taxable value of the area is approximately $200,180,051. The duration of the TIRZ is proposed to be 30 years.  Development in this area will be an important feature in the revitalization of the area and the City of Houston as a whole. 

This ordinance will establish a thirty-year zone effective January 1, 2015; provide for a board of directors; provide for the zone to expire December 31, 2045; establish a tax increment fund for the zone; and make findings that the zone’s projected improvements are of general benefit to the City, and meet the statutory criteria for a reinvestment zone. The creation does not alter the City’s ability to terminate the Zone either at the Zone’s termination date, the date all obligations have been met, or earlier if the City satisfies the outstanding debt and obligations, at which time revenue in excess of obligations returns to the general fund. The existing COH TIRZs represent 16.15% taxable value towards the City’s maximum 25% TIRZ cap. This creation of TIRZ Number Twenty-Six will increase the City’s TIRZs taxable value by .10% from 16.15% to 16.25% towards the 25% cap.

Accordingly, the Administration recommends that City Council approve the creation of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Twenty-Six (Sunnyside Zone) with an expiration date of December 31, 2045.

cc        Marta Crinejo, Agenda Director                     

            Anna Russell, City Secretary

            Donna Edmundson, City Attorney

            Gary Dzierlenga, Senior Assistant City Attorney

Gwendolyn Tillotson                        Phone:  (832) 393-0937