In theory, California’s experiment with redevelopment agencies had good intentions. In practice, it was just a corrupt way for subsidizing auto-centric development.
During the latest budget crisis, Governor Brown killed off all the redevelopment agencies. They were sucking too much money out of the General Fund.
A bill under consideration in the State Senate would revive the concept in a more limited form. SB-1, authored by Darrell Steinberg would authorize tax increment financing for building “sustainable” communities around transit stations.
So would this bill avoid the mistakes of the past? Would the new development be walkable, bikable, and transit-oriented as proponents are claiming? Here is the actual text from the bill, defining parking requirements for commercial developments:
“Infill project” means a project that meets the following conditions:
30(ii) Retail or commercial, where no more than one-half of the project area is used for parking.
Systemic Failure 
Redevelopment authorities and tax-increment financing need to stay dead. End of story.
One-half of the project area for parking, huh? Way to set a high bar, guys.