fostering commercial property development

You know, YIMBY, yes in my backyard, policies that allow for more residential development flexibility? Well, some say this should also be applied to commercial development. The National Bureau of Economic Research policy paper, The Impact of Commercial Real Estate Regulations on U.S. Output, suggests flexible commercial development policies will bring more high paying jobs and more […]

Revitalizing downtown property

 Cities are inviting small businesses into their urban centers. One approach is to create  policies to make it easier for pop-up businesses to operate in urban centers. Non-profits like SF New Deal work with the city’s Office of Workforce and Economic Development to help small businesses, artists, and community organizations set up pop-ups in coordination with a […]

Texas. the former state park meets eminent domain

A vote by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the use eminent domain to take the land of the former Fairfield Lake State Park with the intent of returning it to public use. The former Fairfield Lake State Park land is currently in the hands of a private developer. The eminent domain process began with a […]

ballot prop: homelessness camps and distance requirements

Boulder, Colorado voters approved restrictions on homeless camps that require homeless camps to not be within 500 feet of schools nor within 50 feet of sidewalks and bike paths.  Daily Camera | UPDATED: Boulder ballot items: Safe Zone 4 Kids leads in early results; tax extension, petition proposal on track to win

Downtown recovery drivers

Besides land use conversions so that office buildings become residences, what else helps downtown areas recover their vitality? Diversity. Land use diversification includes not only residential dwellers, but also a mix of education, health care, residential, hotel and retail establishments. Route fifty |  What’s driving post-pandemic downtown recoveries?