When Cities Choose Developers First: Lessons from Failure
What national redevelopment projects can teach St. Petersburg
In my last article, I highlighted 10 cities that got major redevelopment projects right by planning first. Developers second.
They established a public vision.
They laid out the streets, parks, and infrastructure.
Then they invited developers to build within that framework.
It seems clear: the best cities plan first.
But what happens when cities choose a developer before they decide what they want to build?
Across the country, there are examples. More often than not, the result has been delays, cost overruns, lawsuits, scaled-back promises, and taxpayer burdens.
In my newest article, I examine six major redevelopment projects—from Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn to Foxconn in Wisconsin—and what they can teach St. Petersburg as the city considers the future of the Gas Plant District.
Click below to read the full article on Home Runs Matter.
When Cities Choose Developers First - Lessons from Failure