Underutilized land and vacant real estate are often viewed as liabilities, yet they hold the key to transformative economic development and community revitalization. This panel explores how owners and developers can pivot from "holding" land to "activating" it by integrating strategic infrastructure projects that serve as the foundation for placemaking.
By leveraging alternative delivery methods, stakeholders can transform dormant sites into dynamic, people-centered hubs that foster health, happiness, and a robust sense of belonging while simultaneously generating new revenue streams.
Panelists will examine the synergy between placemaking and innovative financing tools like Opportunity Zones to attract private capital to underserved areas. The discussion will highlight how redeveloping vacant lots into walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods or lively gathering spaces does more than just improve the physical landscape; it creates an economic ecosystem that sustains long-term value.
Through case studies of successful cross-sector collaborations, attendees will learn best practices for engaging local communities and structuring partnerships that turn "dead space" into vibrant economic engines, ensuring that every square foot of real estate contributes to both the bottom line and the public good.