The Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program was introduced in 2008 to provide financial incentive to developers, property owners, and tenants to make substantial capital investments in Urban Transit Hubs. Originally endowed with $1.5 billion, the program has evolved considerably since its inception and is nearing exhaustion.
Of the $1.5 billion dedicated to the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program, $250 million has been earmarked for residential projects. As of February 14, 2012, New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority (“EDA”) has already allocated $219.6 million to individual residential applicants, and just extended an additional $17.7 million to Pennrose, a developer proposing to demolish Trenton’s Miller Homes public housing project with low-rise residences. Because so few tax credits remain for residential projects, the EDA has announced it is no longer accepting applications for residential Urban Transit Hut Tax Credits. The remaining unassigned residential tax credits will be allocated to previously approved “ready-to-go” residential projects that have applied for amendments to their Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit applications to increase their credits to up to 35% of their project financing. The Pennrose project, originally approved for tax credits equaling 25% of its project financing and now approved for credits for 35% financing, is one such “ready-to-go” project whose tax credits have been increased by the EDA.
Of the $1.3 billion of tax credits that have not been set aside for residential projects, $100 million has been dedicated to Offshore Wind projects by the Offshore Wine Economic Development Act (expiring January 2013) and $200 million has been set aside for the Grow NJ program (expiring July 2014). An additional $696.5 million has been allocated to individual commercial projects, leaving just $253.5 million available for commercial projects in Urban Transit Hubs. Developers, owners, and tenants of commercial property in an Urban Transit Hub should submit their tax credit applications as soon as possible to insure they don’t miss out.
Residential projects in the Urban Transit Hubs need not abandon hope altogether yet. The EDA has directed that in September 2012, the agency will undertake an evaluation of the commercial projects in its “pipeline,” meaning those that have already submitted an application and are waiting to be approved, as well as the progress of approved projects. Depending on its conclusions following this review, the EDA may recommend that any remaining commercial allocations, as well as the $100 million earmarked for the Offshore Wind project, be reallocated to new residential projects in Urban Transit Hubs and to Grow NJ projects. The EDA will make its final determination as to the reallocation of the Offshore Wind $100 million following the program’s January 2013 sunset, and may introduce a competitive process for the award of any remaining tax credits.
Pete's Take 