Definitely fight against this as a top down dictate. Fight for those dollars to fund bottom up, grassroots initiatives that promote small businesses to fill a neighborhoods needs. Without a doubt some cities will use this “idea” to claim eminent domain and take people’s property, only to turn it over to big businesses.

Having said all that, this is more than likely another idea that will morph into nothing more than a money laundering scheme. The funds needed to retrofit buildings and infrastructure will be off the charts expensive. There probably isn’t enough budgeted to accomplish this in one medium sized city. But, there is probably enough to spread around to rig elections.