For the last several years, the Alabama Historical Tax Credit has been an integral part of the revitalization of downtown Mobile, with developers using the tool to bring new life to historic buildings and create the new buzz in the area. However, the tax credits are set to expire, and John Peebles of NAI Mobile said he has spent a great deal of time in the last several weeks lobbying the Alabama legislature to extend the program. Peebles said the program is proven at the federal level, and all of the states adjacent to Alabama have similar tax credits that help drive redevelopment. Taylor Atchison of Atchison Home said several of his current projects hinge on the tax credits, even stating that one developer with whom he is working in the Mobile area specifically came to Alabama from Georgia because of the tax credit programs. Peebles said there are indications that there will be at least a one year extension of the tax credits, though at this point, nothing is set in stone.

Pictured above (left to right): Chip Haffner of Walter Haffner Company,
Rob McGinley of McDowell Knight Roedder and Sledge and Tracy Rippy ofTrustmark Bank catch up prior to the April 26 Gulf South Mastermind Meeting in Mobile, AL.