Practice Areas: Public Finance

Special Tax Districts and Community Development Authorities

You invest in the development of communities, thereby fostering economic growth and improving living conditions. You recognize the challenges. Local zoning restrictions can hinder progress. Lack of public support can undermine your efforts.

You also recognize the value of a savvy legal team, one that can navigate local ordinances while marshalling public support. At McGuireWoods, our team uses a multi-disciplinary approach to handle the needs of a variety of developers in many parts of the country.

Our experience in this field is broad and deep. We acted as bond counsel, issuer's counsel, underwriter's counsel, developer's counsel or trustee's counsel for most of the tax increment or special tax district transactions in Maryland and Virginia. We have unique experience in the formation of special taxing districts for the purpose of financing major infrastructure projects.

Representative Work

• We were the principal authors of Virginia’s Local Transportation District Legislation. In addition, we have participated in the formation of almost every special taxing district formed under the Local Transportation District Law, including:
  • Route 28 Project ($141,000,000) in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties
  • Route 234 Bypass Project ($100,000,000) in Prince William County
  • Prince William Parkway Project ($40,000,000) in Prince William County
  • Route 5 Project ($10,000,000) in James City County.
• We pioneered the legal structure used by the Northern Virginia Transportation District Commission and the Potomac Rappahannock Transportation District Commission in structuring revenue bond issues totaling more than $116,000,000.
• We have dealt extensively with sports facility financings, including financings through the City of Norfolk, the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, and the Maryland Stadium Authority involving various types of special revenue pledges.
• Recently selected to serve as developer's counsel for the National Harbor project to be located in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
• Served as underwriters' counsel in connection with the bond issuance by the Short Pump Town Center Community Development Authority in Henrico County, Virginia.
• Served as bond counsel and underwriters' counsel in connection with the issuance of special taxing district bonds by Baltimore City, Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, Montgomery County, and county commissioners of Frederick County.