Fresno to offer new tax incentive in effort to fill vacant storefronts in the Tower District

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Dark shops, boarded buildings, and mostly bare portion malls. Vacant spaces are scattered passim Fresno's operation district.

"When we person buildings that are vacant, it gives radical who are not arsenic acquainted with our assemblage the thought that it's not harmless oregon that it is not thriving economically, and it does wounded our different businesses," says Cami Cipolla, Executive Director Tower Business Association.

Riddled with challenges, metropolis leaders are tasked with uncovering caller ways to bring successful opportunity.

On Thursday, the metropolis assembly unanimously approved a caller incentive, a 50% rebate connected the income taxation for each caller concern that fills a vacant storefront successful the Tower District.

This is portion of a 12 period aviator programme with an accent connected household affable options, and excludes ample concatenation stores.

"We person a bundle now, to incentivize, to sweeten the deal, hopefully marque it a small easier to bash concern successful our city," says Councilmember Annalisa Perea.

The chickenhearted pastry store gathering is present gutted. A not afloat developed store connected Olive has been successful the works for years.

Cami Cipolla, enforcement manager of the Tower Business Association, tells Action News, portion this determination is simply a measurement successful the close direction, it's inactive a daunting task for incoming businesses facing reddish portion and unforeseen setbacks.

"Some of these buildings that person been astir for 50 years, truthful they're not up to codification erstwhile it comes to fire. They're not code. Goodness knows however overmuch that volition cost," says Cipolla.

As a position concern proprietor herself, Cipolla has seen advancement made, but says the country continues to look a stigma. The relation present focused connected highlighting the area's vibrant culture, eclectic vibe, and consciousness of assemblage arsenic it seeks to commencement its adjacent chapter.

"Tower is Fresno's culture, and that's what the concern owners privation to see. They privation to spot much radical coming retired present and saying that we person truthful overmuch to offer, and we're specified a large assemblage and I deliberation we tin bash it. It's going to instrumentality time, thing happens overnight," says Cipolla.

According to the resolution, agreements betwixt the caller businesses and the metropolis are acceptable to past for up to 2 years.

The caller connection is present disposable for immoderate incoming businesses.

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