Tallery council prioritizes three census tracts for Opportunity Zones 2.0 nomination

Tallery
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3 The Tallery City Council on June 16 reviewed six census tracts eligible under the federal Opportunity Zones 2.0 rules and voted to submit three tracts, prioritized for the governor's nomination.

Staff explained that Opportunity Zones 2.0 offers preferential federal tax treatment for capital gains invested in qualified projects located in designated low-income census tracts and that governors can nominate a limited share of eligible tracts statewide. Jennifer Gomez said the city examined Go-Biz priorities (readiness, redevelopment potential, developer interest) and recommended three tracts for prioritization because they combine redevelopment opportunity and regional importance:

- Tract 061070030002 ("30002"), which includes the Inyo Avenue corridor, industrial land, and sites targeted for streetscape placemaking and revitalization. Council prioritized this tract as number one for its balance of redevelopment and job potential.

- Tract 061070021000 ("2100"), the large tract on northwest Highway 99 near the Cartill interchange; staff cited potential for mixed commercial and logistics growth and several sites on the city's arena inventory.

- Tract 06107002901 ("2901"), which includes the historic downtown core and industrial areas; staff said an Opportunity Zone designation could help finance costly downtown rehab projects and affordable housing sites.

Council members debated how the priorities might support west-side business corridors and whether nomination of a tract that sits largely in the county (2100) would deliver city benefits; staff and the manager explained annexation and revenue-sharing are possible future steps if development proceeds. Public commenters and council members urged prioritizing the tract they considered most likely to attract private investment and to aid west-side revitalization.

After discussion the council voted to submit the three tract nominations to Go-Biz with the stated priority order: 30002 (first), 2100 (second), 2901 (third). Staff will prepare the required applications and letters to the governor's office.