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Jerry
D.
Riffel
Experience
Jerry is a member of the Real Estate Section of the Firm. He is the principal in charge of the Department's Public Law Team and has a broad background and experience in Tax Increment Financing Development, Chapter 353 (Urban Redevelopment), land clearance, condemnation, special business districts, economic development incentives, and all aspects of land use planning and development.
Representative engagements where Jerry has served as the principal attorney include the following:
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Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. Representation of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. in the negotiation and development of two $300 million mixed-use facilities, one located in the City of St. Louis and the other located in the County of St. Louis. Handled countless land acquisition, land use, lease, environmental, and other issues relating to the development of these projects. Additional work included representing Pinnacle's interests in negotiation and preparation of agreements with engineers, appraisers, surveyors and others involved with these two major development projects. Representation also included representing Pinnacle in its licensing process before the Missouri Gaming Commission.
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Hearst-Argyle Stations, Inc. Representation of Hearst-Argyle in the development of a headquarters building and broadcasting facilities for KMBC-TV in Kansas City that included acquisition of headquarters site, negotiation of state and local incentives, preparation of construction and development agreements, land use decisions, and business association covenants and restrictions.
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Metropolitan Kansas City Performing Arts Center. Representation of the Metropolitan Kansas City Performing Arts Center in the development of its $320 million state-of-the-art performing arts center in downtown Kansas City. The Performing Arts Center will house the three largest performing arts institutions in Greater Kansas City - the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, the Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Representation includes negotiation of a Tax Credits for Contribution package with the Missouri Development Finance Board, resulting in the issuance of Tax Credits in the amount of $25,000,000.
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Bayer CropScience, L.P. Representation of Bayer CropScience in the development of its $40 million alzol-fungicide facility. The project was developed and financed in accordance with Missouri's Chapter 100 abatement program and involved negotiation of property tax exemption and payments in-lieu-of taxes, industrial revenue bond documents, and negotiation of a Grant Agreement with the Kansas City, Missouri School District. Project was also developed with assistance of Development Tax Credits and involved negotiation with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, preparation of application and related documents.
- 22nd and Main Tax Increment Financing Plan. Representation of the developers of the St. Paul Tax Increment Financing Plan and the Levitt Enterprises Tax Increment Financing Plan in the historic Freight house district located north of the City's Union Station. Services rendered and planned include preparation of TIF applications and but-for financial analysis, negotiations with architects and engineers, hearings for approval of proposed Project Areas, and negotiation of issues relating to infrastructure, parking, and historic tax credits.
- Cumberland Redevelopment. Representation of the owners and developers of a downtown Kansas City office and retail project located in historic buildings on Ninth Street. Services rendered have included amendments to the Redevelopment Plan with the City of Kansas City, Missouri with appearances before the City Council and City Planning Commission, and enforcement of the Redevelopment Plan through condemnation actions and negotiations with various owners within the redevelopment area and preparation and negotiation of a TIF District.
- Hispanic Economic Development Corporation/Zimmer Development Company. Representation of the Developer on an industrial development project on Kansas City's west side. This development is being done by Zimmer Development Company pursuant to various city and federal requirements keyed by federal grants and a Section 108 loan totaling $14.2 million to the City of Kansas City. The Project is located on old railroad property adjacent to Southwest Boulevard. The property is blighted by industrial-related environmental problems and is considered to have historical value by the State of Missouri. Jerry has analyzed various redevelopment options for HEDC, including Tax Increment Financing and Chapter 353 redevelopment. Jerry negotiated Section 106 and environmental remediation plans with the State of Missouri. Jerry has also taken the lead in structuring extensive and involved financing and affirmative action requirements and implementation of same. He also handled various aspects of this project related to the Uniform Relocation Act.
- Savoy TIF. Representation of the Developer and owner of the historic Savoy Hotel in securing approval of a Tax Increment Taxing District in downtown Kansas City. The City Council approved "Super-TIF" benefits that included all city-based Economic Activity Taxes and a Cooperative Agreement with the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Kansas City for collection of the Hotel Occupancy Tax and other related benefits. The Project Area for the renovation of the hotel has been approved by the Council and applications for federal and state historic tax credits are pending. Services rendered and planned also include negotiations with historic preservation groups, architects, engineers, and contractors.
- Union Hill TIF. Representation of the Developer in the Union Hill area of Kansas City, Missouri, in securing approval of a Tax Increment Financing District for the development of a hotel. Significant benefits would have been lost to the Developer if the approval had been delayed beyond December 31, 1997. Jerry's representation was critical in expediting the process to a final vote before the Council before the end of the tax year.
Education
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University of Kansas School of Law, J.D.
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University of Kansas, B.A., Political Science
Honors
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Selected among The Best Lawyers in America®, 2007-2009
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Selected as "Leading Lawyer" by Chambers USA, 2004 -- 2007
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Appointment by Governor Bob Holden, Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact, 2001-2005
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Selected for Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008
- Selected by peers for "Best of the Bar", The Kansas City Business Journal, 2003 -- 2004
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Martindale-Hubbell® "AV" Rating
Professional Affiliations
- Chairman of the Downtown Council's Business Retention and Expansion Committee, 2005
- Executive Committee of the Downtown Council, 2005
- Speaker on land use and real estate subjects for local Bar and University programs
- Adjunct Professor of Urban Law, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 1978-81
- City Councilman, Fourth District, City of Kansas City, Missouri
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors member; Vice Chair
- Executive Committee; Chair Kansas City, Missouri Committee
- Service on numerous Boards and Executive Committees, including Odyssey 2000
- Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, and Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri
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