In response to petition drive, City Council repeals Crossroads TIF ordinance

The Kansas City Council officially repealed a measure Thursday that previously allowed incentive financing for a new headquarters for the BNIM architectural firm in the Crossroads.

The council’s vote, made without comment, was largely procedural because BNIM had already abandoned that project and is now seeking a new location.

Supporters had said the taxpayer incentive was needed and justified to create a cutting-edge, environmentally progressive architectural headquarters in a long-vacant building at 1640 Baltimore Ave.

But referendum petitioners said the Crossroads is a dynamic neighborhood that should no longer need tax increment financing help. They gathered sufficient signatures to force the city to hold a public election on the TIF deal.

BNIM said it couldn’t wait for an election and opted to abandon the deal and look for alternate locations.

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "In response to petition drive, City Council repeals Crossroads TIF ordinance."