Measuring Sustainable Development through Tax Increment Financed Brownfield Redevelopment Statutes: A Florida Case Study

This research measures the theoretically sustainable development synergy of United States’ redevelopment, tax increment, and brownfield statutes and questions local redevelopment professionals on this combination’s implementation. This policy’s integration and application measurements guide increased knowledge and best practice methods in the path of America’s population migration into urbanized areas, thus managing the economic, environmental, and social impacts for future generations. This examination used a pragmatic, qualitative, and quantitative mixed-method approach to identify, collect, code, and analyze redevelopment, tax increment, and state brownfields laws. An exhaustive literature review of the laws’ histories explained when and why they exist. In addition, a quantitative sustainable development triple-bottom-line scorecard was created to measure each state’s policies. Finally, as a case study, Florida redevelopment professionals were questioned on their knowledge and implementation capacity for redevelopment, tax increment, brownfields, and sustainable development. The investigation revealed that no states met the full triple-bottom-line criteria, but all states partially complied. The research also revealed each law’s economic, environmental, and social strengths and weaknesses. Finally, the questionnaire indicated that local government redevelopment officials lack sustainable development implementation knowledge. Their perceptions are stigmatized by a lack of local political, financial, and professional will to engage in the process. The study concludes that theoretical sustainable development capacity exists through tax increment financed brownfield remediated redevelopments and that legislatures can improve the governing statutes. The questionnaire reveals a lack of local implementation knowledge and recommends further research and education to enhance sustainable development outcomes