Resource Reviews

REVIEW: The Metropolitan Revolution: How Cities and Metros are Fixing our Broken Politics and Fragile Economy

Resource Review of The Metropolitan Revolution: How Cities and Metros are Fixing our Broken Politics and Fragile Economy by Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley (© 2013, Brookings Institution Press, 288 pages) Reliant on shared funds, grants and direct expenditures from federal sources, the next big ideas in many parts of the country are being reduced in scale… Read more

The Death of Corporate Reputation

Spring 2014, Vol. 39, No. 1 Abstract: For more than a century law firms, investment banks, accounting firms, credit rating agencies and companies seeking regular access to U. S. capital markets made large investments in their reputations. They generally treated their customers well and occasionally even endured losses to maintain their reputations as faithful brokers, dealers,… Read more

Renewables, Tax Credits and Ad Valorem Taxes: Are Policies Aligned?

Spring 2014, Vol. 39, No. 1 Abstract: As the renewable energy industry matures, growing controversy swirls around its funding and, ironically, its sustainability. Left unchecked, local assessors can undermine the operating efficiencies of wind and solar farms with assessments based on replacement cost rather than market value. In this article, the author explores the implications of… Read more

Accuracy of Zillow Home Estimates

Spring 2014, Vol. 39, No. 1 Abstract: This article compares Zillow.com’s home estimate values (Zestimates) with actual sale prices of 2,005 single-family residential properties in two markets in November 2013. A Zillow “four-star” market in suburban St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Zillow “one-star” market in suburban St. Louis, Missouri, are analyzed in terms of Zestimate accuracy… Read more

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Historic Tax Credit Transactions in the Wake of Revenue Procedure 2014-12

Spring 2014, Vol. 39, No. 1 Abstract: The historic rehabilitation tax credit (HTC) market was all but frozen by the highly controversial Historic Boardwalk Hall, LLC, v. Commissioner (HBH) court decision of August 2012. Then last December, the HTC market was given new life by the Internal Revenue Service’s highly anticipated issuance of Revenue Procedure 2014-12…. Read more

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Form-Based Zoning from Theory to Practice

Spring 2014, Vol. 39, No. 1 Abstract: In this article, the authors explore the potential advantages and disadvantages of form-based zoning to understand how it can be used effectively to support development that is financially viable and socially beneficial. Instead of focusing mainly on “use” as the controlling factor in regulating development, form-based zoning is primarily intended to enhance the “public good” derived from private... Read More

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