Development Strategies

We are excited to share that Andy Pfister, AICP and Anuradha Samarajiva are in Denver today as presenters at the 2025 National Planning Conference! They’ll be sharing the stage with our amazing client team at the City of Greeley to discuss At Home in Greeley: a project that paired deep data analysis with intentional Spanish-language engagement to produce a holistic and economically feasible plan. We’re looking forward to sharing this project and learning from other sessions at #NPC25.

Last year, Tulsa voters approved $75 million in funding for housing - the largest single investment in housing in Tulsa's history. This article describes how these funds will be used, in support of the initiatives identified in the Tulsa Housing Strategy, to build 13,000 - 15,000 homes over the next ten years. Because the need is great, the initiatives are wide ranging and comprehensive - a grant program to increase the affordable housing supply, a revolving housing investment fund, infrastructure investments, funding to acquire sites and rehabilitate vacant units, and more. We see two big things here that are absolutely essential for Tulsa's success: a willingness from the public and leadership to invest in housing, and a commitment to a thoughtful and integrated housing strategy. With that foundation in place, we're confident Tulsa will see real progress. https://lnkd.in/g7uKaps8 Free article link: https://archive.is/tRq79 #Tulsa #housing #implementation

The DS team was happy to join Lamar Johnson Collaborative and our neighbors in The Ville, Greater Ville, and Kingsway East for the PlanSTL Winter Workshop!    Residents reflected on our findings on the community’s existing conditions, sharing their honest feedback, lived experiences, and hopes for the historic St. Louis neighborhoods. No doubt, there are challenges—but the energy in the room was infectious and we could see that now, more than ever, the determination to chart a path forward.  Our next step is to take residents’ feedback and work in collaboration with the planning team to plan a future for the neighborhoods that honors their past and works towards a shared vision.  #neighborhoodrevitalization #equity 

Federal funding and incentives are simply not enough to build all the housing that’s needed, and many different barriers prevent private investors from meeting demand. New tools are needed, like the one described in this article, where Montgomery County, Maryland has created a $100 million revolving fund to build mixed-income public housing. This model allows Montgomery County to develop and finance its own projects, benefit from rental revenues, lower rents, and design projects that are responsive to community needs. At Development Strategies, we are always exploring innovative ways for communities to meet their housing needs, and we know communities will need to revisit preconceptions about what public housing can be in order to be successful. #InterestingRead #housing

Recruiting top talent means knowing where to find it, offering inspiring projects that spark a planner’s passion, and building connections that open doors. Over the past few weeks, we’ve had the privilege of attending several career fairs, presenting to some classes, and meeting talented and inquisitive students eager to shape the future.    We’re grateful to these outstanding institutions for the opportunity to share our work and connect with the next generation of professionals!    ✔️ Washington University in St. Louis, Spring Internship & Job Career Fair  ️✔️️Ball State University, CAP Job & Internship Fair  ✔️ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Career XPO  ✔️ Washington University in St. Louis, Architecture | Urban Design | Landscape Architecture Career Fair    Special thanks to our staff who met with students: Matt Wetli AICP, Justin Carney, AICP, Brad Beggs, MAI, Jenny Connelly-Bowen, MPPA, Carolyn Flesaker, Olivia Borland, MSW, Catherine Kazmierczak, Priyanka Adhikari, and Wei Hui.    #careerfair #students #recruitment #wustl #ballstateuniversity #ballstate #UIUC

Construction is complete on a stunning $17.5 million transformation of Lock 3 Park in Downtown Akron, Ohio into a unique destination public space. In the Downtown Akron Vision + Development Plan, Development Strategies highlighted the importance of Lock 3 Park for the vitality of Downtown Akron and the future development of the Bowery District. We're excited to see that many of the recommended park improvements are done, including new pathways and amenities to attract visitors and activate the neighborhood. Additional details on the renovation are available here: https://lnkd.in/gvkshDwb Learn more about the Downtown Akron Vision + Development Plan: https://lnkd.in/gDgkwDYZ #Implementation #Planning #Akron #Ohio

In a city looking to evolve from its industrial past, this Toledo program to provide free entrepreneur support through public libraries is a great example of how libraries continue to evolve and adapt to serve their communities. We find that libraries are often at the top of the wish list for communities seeking community anchors to attract people and provide meaningful community services. Development Strategies also works on many projects where there is an interest from local residents to support local small businesses, and this is for good reason. Local entrepreneurs are an essential part of economic growth and upward mobility for community residents. A program like this brings all these benefits together, making libraries more useful and communities more resilient all at once. #InterestingRead #entrpreneurship #library

The Cherokee Nation is leading the way in addressing its residents’ deep housing challenges and emerging needs. Last fall, Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed into law an expansion of the Housing, Jobs, and Sustainable Communities Act, which is set to allocate $40 million every three years to support housing development, rehabilitation projects, and construction of new community centers. This announcement comes on the heels of the Nation’s Housing Need Assessment, authored by Development Strategies, that identified need for 9,400 new/rehabbed housing units over the next decade. It is always heartening to see the impact of our work—we are proud to support the Cherokee Nation in its pursuit to alleviate housing insecurity, build community, and grow economic opportunity throughout the reservation. We invite you to read this PBS article to learn more about the innovative work that the Cherokee Nation is doing to invest in housing opportunities. #housing #CherokeeNation

Pre-approved development plans were a specific recommendation of the recent Tulsa Housing Strategy, and we're thrilled to see Tulsa moving forward with this initiative. As part of a broader housing strategy, pre-approved plans can save time and money for builders, ensuring that new housing costs less and gets built faster. Pre-approved plans also broaden the range of potential builders, including small and mission-oriented developers with fewer resources and less experience. Great job, Tulsa! Learn more about the Tulsa Housing Strategy: https://lnkd.in/gMsYAnCE #Tulsa #housing #implementation

All Aboard at the Conservation Station!  The two most important decisions a city can make are where to build and where to protect the natural landscape.  In 2024 we kicked off a plan for the Town of Blacksburg to explore conservation strategies for 4,000 acres of beautiful land in the Toms Creek Basin. This video highlights the stunning natural beauty that makes this one of Blacksburg residents’ favorite places. In the coming months, we'll be sharing a lot more about the strategies and vision that we are co-creating with the Town and its residents. Project website: https://lnkd.in/eScsQPXR #ourtcb #blacksburg #conservationplanning #planning