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POLICE Department

Investigation into Shooting at 7700 West Street

March 24, 2020 - Houston police are investigating the shooting of a man at 7700 West Street about 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday (March 24).  

The victim, Leonardo Lopez, 41, was transported to an area hospital in stable condition.  

HPD Major Assaults & Family Violence Division Officers M. Combs and A. Barker reported:  

Mr. Lopez got into an altercation with drivers of two gray or blue four-door vehicles that were racing.  Lopez and the suspect vehicles chased each other on East Crosstimbers until Lopez's vehicle struck a fence near West Street and East Crosstimbers.  

A Hispanic male suspect in one of the vehicles fired shots at Lopez's vehicle and fled the scene.  Lopez was struck at least twice and paramedics transported him to the hospital.  

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Major Assaults & Family Violence Division at 713-308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.  



VHS/JFC  3-25-20
Inc. #040010020


For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.
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Department of Finance > Economic Development > Tax Abatements
Tax Abatements

I. OVERVIEW

General Policy

The City of Houston tax abatement program is created to encourage new development and stimulate new job growth and investment in the city. The tax abatement program and other forms of economic development incentives are available to many types of businesses to address the city's economic development needs and objectives stated in this general policy and pursuant to the provisions of this article.

The city, however, will from time to time consider appropriate economic incentives for the relocation, expansion or retention of businesses, whether intellectual capital or fixed asset-based, to the extent these incentives would be the critical element that would govern a decision to relocate or expand a business here . Incentives might include tax abatements, as described in these guidelines and criteria, or another appropriate form of incentive, such as expedited permitting for a development project or investment in infrastructure that would be useful in developing a particular site, which could include investments enhancing transportation or water and sewer services. Such improvements can be costly, but can be of benefit not only to the affected business but also to the larger community.

The businesses and citizens of the city understand that local governments rely substantially on property taxes to pay for public safety, schools, infrastructure, public health, and neighborhood improvements that are essential to all businesses and citizens of this community. The city wants to avoid any situation in which residents and businesses must pay more taxes over the long run to maintain some essential level of public services because the city grants tax abatements to some businesses. Incentives other than tax abatement might be funded through accelerated capital improvements plan action or special district financing such as tax increment financing, special assessment financing, or in-city municipal utility districts. The city could also consider beneficial land exchanges, right of way abandonment, or below-market financing or leases on public property that could provide mutual benefit to the city and the proposed development. Any offer of such an incentive would be reviewed case-by-case to determine eligibility and compliance with all applicable laws.

To assist the city in obtaining an equitable portion of state economic development funds, the city will consider applications for tax abatements that include some level of State economic development assistance. The Houston region contributes about one-quarter of the funds to the State of Texas' general revenues. In turn, a proportionate share of the state's economic development budget is attributable to the Houston region. If allocated over time equitably among the regions of the state in proportion to the employment and financial contributions to state revenues, these funds should provide sufficient funding for economic incentives for corporate relocations and expansions in our region, when combined with the other substantial advantages for economic growth in our region.

It is the policy of the city, however, not to offer ad valorem tax incentives except when they are offered by other local government entities that have the means to offer these incentives under law. Typically this would be Harris County. City officials recognize that shrewd companies could try to play one local jurisdiction off the other in a competition for tax abatements, and we will work toward interlocal agreements that prevent such occurrences in our region. It is the goal of the city that local taxing jurisdictions in our region should agree not to use ad valorem tax abatement to compete against each other for business relocations or expansions. It should be recognized that the attraction of new businesses to any part of our region strengthens our overall region and the people in it.

Officials at the city, at the most senior level, will meet at any time with the person who is ultimately responsible for making a decision to relocate to address specific economic or other issues that would be decisive in corporate location. The city would negotiate in a business-like manner on a case-by-case basis. There is no 'standard' tax abatement, and no entity or individuals other than designated city officials are authorized to negotiate with respect to any tax abatement proposal or incentive that might be available on a case-by-case basis.

Typically, city officials would want to see pro forma financial information to assist in making judgments concerning the role of property tax costs in the economics of the relocation. The city understands that for many businesses some incremental amount of ad valorem taxes would not represent a substantial percentage of the cost of goods sold. Other incentives, as referenced above, may be discussed with city officials.

Tax abatements may be used in "special situations," which are hard to define generically. Examples of those include:

  • The location of a high-employment facility in a particularly distressed or neglected part of the City, where increased job opportunities could contribute significantly to a reduction in crime or cascading redevelopment of other sites, which would more than offset the loss of the tax benefit.
  • A substantial equity investment in real estate development serving an important public purpose - such as providing affordable housing that could lead to redevelopment of a blighted area, or the substantial equity investment in real estate development which could "break new ground" and attract additional development.
  • A case in which a company could not and would not remain or expand in Houston, or locate in Houston, because of another viable option which took into account all significant costs. Any representation by the company would need to be supported by credible economic analysis, and a direct communication between the Mayor or the other appropriate senior official and the private sector decision maker.

II. REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicants must demonstrate that their project will increase the value of the property by at least $1-million upon completion,
  • Create or retain a minimum of 25 jobs over a three-year job-creation period, and
  • A company must also be competitively sited with locations outside of the City limits.

If project site is located within a State Enterprise Zone , minimum requirements are reduced to an investment level of $500,000 and creation of only five jobs (25% of all new employees must either live within the zone or meet the definition of being economically disadvantaged).

III. PROJECTS

Eligible Projects
Eligible abatable property includes buildings, structures, machinery and equipment, site improvements, office and related personal property (if occupying leased premises) necessary for operation of the facility.

Modernization for the purpose of replacing or upgrading existing facilities that increase the productive input or output, or that updates technology or substantially lowers the unit cost of the operation will be considered, however the formula for modernization does not exceed 80% per year.

Leasehold improvements are abatable providing there is an increase in the value of personal and/or real property. (Harris County does not provide personal property tax abatements.)

Operations involving leased property require the lessor to be party to the agreement.

Ineligible Projects
Ineligible property for tax abatement includes land, inventory, supplies, tools, furnishings, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, housing, property to be rented or leased, facilities for generation of electricity, or the production, storage or distribution of natural gas or other fluids.

IV. TERMS

When tax abatements are available, they would be offered with the following general limits and guidelines:

  • For typical commercial and industrial abatements, the City would negotiate an abatement scale and duration based primarily on investment level, rather than jobs. Each project would be evaluated and the incentive tailored to an analysis based on factors such as industry competitive disadvantages, quantifiable economic impacts, and furthering other public purposes in unique ways. Applicants would be required to submit economic impact analysis from reliable modeling tools. Depending on the analysis of such factors and data, the City would evaluate the appropriate level and duration of abatement;
  • Reduced investment requirements and flexible abatement scales could be available for tax abatements within state enterprise zones, or eligible new market tax credits census tracts, bank finance districts, and other non-city incentives that require local matching. This aspect of the program would emphasize encouraging access to other local, state and federal incentives to leverage the city abatement incentive;
  • The City will give more favorable consideration to applicants committing to community benefits, such as the city's Minority and Women/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, local purchasing, construction and permanent employment job opportunities within a defined area, and employee health care benefits; and
  • An enhanced abatement up to 90% for 10-years may be considered for:

    Targeted industry clusters specifically targeted for future growth such as biotechnology, information technology, aerospace, energy, or other industries that the City from time to time determines to have particular impact on the regional economy;

    New or expanding businesses (for example, retail, industrial, commercial) in neighborhood areas targeted for revitalization (for example Houston Hope areas or other distressed or neglected parts of the City); and

    Transit-oriented development within 1,500 feet of transportation corridors, such as existing and planned Metro rail stops, multi-modal centers, and bus transfer stations.

V. RECAPTURE PROVISION

If the abatement recipient defaults on terms, conditions or warranties contained in the abatement agreement, and fails to cure such default after notification by city, then the agreement will terminate and the city may recapture up to 100 percent of all taxes abated.

VI. CONTACT US

For more information regarding tax abatements, please call Keith R. Phillips at (713)837-0610 or by e-mail at keith.phillips@cityofhouston.net.