- Council approves tax increase on downtown properties. The Sioux Falls City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved changes to how downtown properties are taxed as part of the Business Improvement District (BID). The BID is an extra property tax that downtown property owners pay to help provide additional services like graffiti response, waste removal, cleaning, beautification, etc. Changes remove exemptions for industrial properties and multi-family housing, and 21 properties are affected by the change. Those places will now have to pay in to the BID at a higher rate.
- Parking fee changes advance. The Sioux Falls City Council also passed the first reading of changes to downtown public parking, which would increase rates on Phillips Ave, decrease rates in certain ramps, adjust hours to charge later into the evening for on-street parking, and increase fees for parking tickets. That moves now to a second reading next week where the council will vote on final approval.
- Southeastern breaks ground on new facility. Southeastern Directions for Life held a groundbreaking this week for its new Community Support Services Building that'll be constructed at 300 S. Summit Ave. on the site formerly known as the Mercado block. In addition to support services, the facility will also have a number of low-income housing apartments.
- City completes phase two of Jacobson Plaza construction. More green space, a new scenic overlook and improved walking trails around Jacobson Plaza are all part of this second phase of construction. The $2.6 million project was 90% funded by donations from Garry Jacobson and Rob Everist through the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. The city kicked in $200,000, which was approved by the city council in March. Here's a look at the updates:
