Taft Real Estate attorney Sylvia Michas is a member of a panel convened by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to overhaul Chicago’s LaSalle Street. The corridor historically was home to Chicago’s biggest banks but now has many vacancies and needs revitalization. The 36-page report released by ULI in June recommended the creation of the “LaSalle Landmarks Innovation District” to help launch the area as a mixed-use district with residents of different income levels and businesses of all sizes. The city is expected to reopen access to funds in the LaSalle Central TIF District to encourage new developments. Crain’s Chicago Business covered the panel’s work in the June 27 article “Could these plans revive LaSalle Street” and again on Sept. 21, “City looks to spark Loop housing wave with TIf money, incentives.”

Michas focuses her practice on land use, tax increment financing (TIF), government procurement, and government relations. She has extensive experience representing property owners and real estate developers in securing all types of land use entitlements, including planned developments, zoning amendments, special uses, variations, and public way approvals. Michas’s practice also includes advising clients on government procurement and compliance regulations, laws, and policies at the local, state, and federal levels.