Thank you to everyone who joined us for the May Happy Hour Members Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, at The Commons on Merton. We’re grateful for your time and thoughtful engagement during our discussion on Housing and Land Value Taxation. Please take a moment to review our recap and complete a brief survey on your experience.
B.E.S.T Policy Learning Series - May 14
The evening began with dynamic speed networking and updates from our community development partners, followed by featured presentations from Ben Schulman (a5 Branding & Digital) and Dr. Josie Faass (Progress and Poverty Institute). Together, they explored the potential of Land Value Taxation (LVT) as a tool for more equitable development in Memphis, highlighting tax savings potential, policy implications, and real-world case studies. A robust discussion followed, offering valuable community perspectives on this timely topic.
Policy Briefing with the Mayor – May 15
The following day, this presentation was shared with Mayor Paul Young during the quarterly B.E.S.T. Policy Series Briefing. Key takeaways from the session included:
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Mayor Young expressed interest in pursuing a proof of concept through Downtown Memphis PILOT mechanisms.
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Others present noted limited state-level support and that execution would require broader backing from statewide supporting organizations.
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Additional feedback emphasized the need for a coordinated communications strategy and increased public education around LVT.
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Research questions raised:
- Who would bear the shifted tax burden?
- What benefits would result for those impacted?
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Who currently owns vacant and underutilized land?
Next Steps:
- Ongoing research and outreach to potential coalition partners
- Post-event survey and feedback analysis
Special Thanks
We extend our sincere appreciation to our event collaborators:
- Community Alliance for the Homeless
- Binghampton Community Land Trust
- Fair Housing Council of Metropolitan Memphis
- Center for Transforming Communities
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The Works Blight Elimination Steering Team
- Ben Schulman, a5 Branding & Digital
- Dr. Josie Faass, Progress and Poverty Institute
We Want to Hear from You
Please take a moment to complete our brief post-event survey:
Resources & Further Reading
Explore the presentations and recommendations from our presenters:
- Community Alliance for the Homeless
- Binghampton Community Land Trust
- Poverty and Progress Institute - LVT
- Ben Schulman's Op-Ed – Daily Memphian, Dec 2024
- Progress and Poverty Institute LVT Toolkit
Thank you again for being part of this important conversation. We look forward to continuing the dialogue and seeing you at future meetings.
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