In reply to Mickey.

TIF can absolutely be used badly, and this sounds like a prime example. Minneapolis has certainly also had its own bad TIF deals.

And, it doesn't make sense to leave all the tools in the shed if you're trying to grow something - historic tax credits, TIF, direct subsidy, and a host of other tools all have their role to play. None of them is a good idea in all situations, and sometimes, it's best to just let things grow on their own.