Development Strategy and Planning

Successful, quality development results from the synthesis of community goals and input, market and financial considerations, and physical constraints. Our work begins with including all stakeholders to create a shared vision and continues with preparing plans, programs, strategies and action steps to execute the vision. We collaborate with planning and design firms to identify economically feasible uses for the development program and provide guidance on pre-development actions, development partnerships, financing sources, special districts, and other tools to implement the plan. Our unique expertise has been applied to comprehensive and subarea plans, site redevelopment, walkable mixed-use projects, and broad implementation strategies incorporating innovative development concepts.  We work in major cities, suburbs and small towns.

Services

SB Friedman develops and assists in implementing strategies to revitalize communities, downtowns, corridors and sites. We have established a reputation for producing ambitious, but achievable strategies that are rooted in market reality, financial feasibility and effective implementation. Our place-based strategies are a synthesis of community goals, economic potential, evolving demographic and development trends, physical and market constraints, and proven planning principles.

Transit-oriented development (TOD) requires insights on the uses that flourish within walking distance of transit – residential, retail, entertainment, office – coupled with an understanding of how people move around and use such an environment.

SB Friedman works in interdisciplinary teams to formulate area plans at various geographic scales, in urban, suburban and rural locations. We prepare plans that serve as a foundation for land use decision-making and attracting private development. Functioning as a “proxy developer,” we define market-achievable levels of development. Our market research and development feasibility and phasing insights are key to creating plans that are guided by public goals but grounded in reality.

Many airports are under fiscal pressure to generate additional revenue to support operations and to enhance the commercial amenities in and around the airport. Whether the goal is to drive ground lease revenue or to help attract complementary tenants and business, we support our aviation planning partners and clients in master planning and other economic development efforts.

SB Friedman excels in researching and analyzing various urban economic issues to inform public policy and decision-making. We are at the forefront of tracking and developing new techniques to address critical issues facing urban areas, such as achieving fiscal balance, identifying and building industry clusters, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and crafting policies that result in inclusive economic development.