SCS Engineers’ National Expert Eric Williams describes in his article how local governments face challenges in attracting investment to urban infill sites due to environmental risks, financial feasibility, and lengthy development timelines. By adopting a developer’s perspective, they can better position these sites for redevelopment and private investment. Read Eric’s article “Think Like a Developer: How Local Government Can Attract Urban Infill Investment.”
In a hurry? Here’s our 30-second summary of the highlights.
Reduce environmental risk: Developers require clear, quantified environmental data to manage risks. Local governments can add value by conducting environmental assessments, mitigating hazards such as asbestos, demolishing obsolete structures, and cleaning up contamination, thereby lowering upfront risks and increasing developer confidence. Even partial mitigation, when paired with clearly defined residual risks, can facilitate project planning.
Enhance financial viability: Urban infill often incurs higher costs than greenfield sites. Local governments have access to financial tools unavailable to private developers, such as EPA and state brownfield grants, Tax Increment Financing, Community Development Block Grants, economic development zones, and utility districts. These resources can close financial gaps, improve project feasibility, and serve as catalysts for investment.
Accelerate project timelines: Time-sensitive market conditions require swift action. Governments can shorten pre-development phases by proactively addressing blight and environmental issues, rezoning to support redevelopment, upgrading infrastructure, utilizing environmental review exemptions, and streamlining permitting and entitlement processes. This reduces delays that might otherwise drive developers to alternate sites.
“Think Like a Developer: How Local Government Can Attract Urban Infill Investment.”
