Vacancy Tax Debated Further in Palo Alto

Palo Alto has long been struggling with what to do with underutilized corridors downtown and along California Ave. At a recent committee meeting several council members discussed the idea of whether or not a vacancy tax to get storefronts filled faster had merits. Council members Lydia Kou and Julie Lythcott-Haims have considered it a strong idea for a while now and recently, Mayor Pat Burt has chimed in tentative support.

Several of the council members, particularly Mayor Burt, noted that drug use, homeless encampments and other activities are really what need to be cleaned up so retail can flourish and he suggested any money raised through a tax go toward investing in a cleaner and safer downtown.

Competing ideas from outside consultants suggest a vacancy tax is a poor idea. Next week the same committee with hear a presentation from a group called Streetsense and Commercial Real Estate that proposes relaxing restrictions on downtown uses and easing up on certain zoning regulations. It is expected that both ideas will come to the council in the coming months.

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