Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act (OPRA) Tax Exemption Certificate (PA 146)
This
incentive is designed to promote redevelopment of contaminated,
blighted, or functionally obsolete commercial and commercial housing
properties. It allows the city to "freeze" the taxable value of a
structure (before improvements are made) for 1-12 years, essentially
allowing property owners to rehabilitate their buildings
property-tax-free with the exception of school taxes.
The State may also
decide to exempt one-half of the school millage for up to six years.
This exemption requires a petition to City Council to create an OPRA
district; currently, the City of Ypsilanti creates a district for each
property in consideration on a case-by-case basis.