Comments by:
Hunter Barrier
President
McShane Corp.
Rosemont, IL

A recent study conducted by Saint Consulting in Boston reveals a growing unrest on the part of the American population with development--especially in their backyards and especially retail and industrial. The question arises then if the development community should do more to gain the buy-in of the general public in its development schemes. Some 56% of our industry readers said yes, and commentator Barrier agrees, saying, it's the only way to build:

"Public by-in is essential. Increasingly, the community's concern and attention to growth and development issues have increased. To be successful we have to work with communities to create a project that will be acceptable to the city we're working in.

"The first thing we do is conduct a review of the entitlement situation that affects a particular piece of property--zoning and other issues. Then we conduct a political due diligence. That gives us a sense of the legal framework for the land use as well as the public's attitudes and interest toward development in a particular area or particular site or a particular product type.

"We develop in cities we are familiar with, but we also retain experts that range from land-use attorneys to public-relations experts. We keep in touch with representatives, downtown coalitions and other stakeholders in the process of a city's economic growth and physical development.

"To be successful at urban and suburban development, you have to be capable in this area of public understanding. It's just as important as project costs and financial returns. Every successful company developing any product with any sort of controversy has to become adept at working with the public.

"Of course, it's incumbent upon elected officials and private citizens to take an active role in growth and development issues and make sure that at the end of the day we achieve smart growth and quality development. We look for locations with a smart-growth, quality development goal and are not just anti-development for no-growth's sake."

Instant Insights /

Should Developers Seek Public Buy-in?

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