Belema Derefaka

Con Edison is an Economic Engine Powering New York Jobs & Clean Energy Transition

August 22, 2024 / No Comments

This press release was originally issued by Con Edison.

 

Economic Impact Report: Company Contributes $22.6B in Economic Activity; Supports More Than 38,000 Jobs in 2023

 

Con Edison contributed $22.6 billion in economic impact to New York State in 2023. The company’s investments in the clean energy transition, and in resiliency projects that protect system reliability during more extreme weather conditions drove a 20 percent increase ($3.8 billion) over 2021, according to an economic impact report released today.

 

The company supports 38,600 jobs in New York State and spent $1.1 billion in contracts with businesses in the five boroughs and Westchester County.

 

It also increased its contracts with Small, and Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses, the backbone of the New York City economy, by 45 percent from 2021 to 2023 to more than $550 million.

 

Con Edison also delivered more than $3.3 billion in tax revenue paid by customers to New York City to support city services, including $2.4 billion in property taxes alone. Con Edison customers are responsible for 4 percent of New York City’s tax revenue, nearly enough to cover the budgets of FDNY (Fire Department of New York) and DSNY (NYC Sanitation Department) combined.

 

“This report shows the essential role that Con Edison plays in our region’s vibrant economy and in making this the best place in the world to live, work and visit,” said Tim Cawley, chairman and CEO of Con Edison. “Our investments reflect our values and the values of our customers. We support Small, and Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses, create jobs and facilitate the payment of billions of dollars a year in taxes to support the communities we serve, all while leading the transition to clean energy. We are demonstrating that the people of Con Edison, and the services we provide help local businesses prosper, lift incomes for more New Yorkers, and support more investment in our local community.”

 

The Economic Impact Report created by HR&A Advisors, Inc. (HR&A) for Con Edison quantifies the company’s economic and fiscal impacts to customers, retirees, unions, shareholders, and industry and civic associations in 2023. This is the second report HR&A submitted to Con Edison. The first was in 2021.

 

“Con Edison contributes to New York’s economy in ways that positively impact the millions of New Yorkers it serves,” said Kate Wittels, partner at HR&A. “As Con Edison continues investing in its system to serve customers during more extreme weather events, and enabling its customers transition to clean energy, the company’s impact on the state’s economy will continue to grow, proving that New York’s clean energy transition is an economic development driver and an environmental policy.”

 

Purchasing Power: Small Businesses and M/WBEs

In 2023, the company spent $1.1 billion with companies in Westchester County and the five boroughs of New York, with another $700 million spent with companies located elsewhere in New York State.

 

31 percent of Con Edison’s in-state contracts were awarded to M/WBEs and small businesses in 2023. The company has invested significantly in developing its relationships with M/WBEs and small businesses through our supplier diversity program. Con Edison encourages suppliers to reach out if they are interested in doing business with the company.

 

Jobs

The report found that Con Edison supports 38,600 jobs in New York State, including direct, indirect, and induced jobs. For every Con Edison employee, the company supports another 1.9 jobs in New York State. That number reflects an 18 percent increase in total jobs since 2021 including 1,000 direct jobs.

      • 80 percent of Con Edison’s workforce lives in New York State.
      • More than 75 percent graduated from New York State-based public and private colleges and universities.
      • 59 percent of Con Edison’s employees are people of color.
      • 23 percent are female.

     

    “We applaud Con Edison for being a critical industry partner in supporting Mayor Adams’ vision to create a more inclusive economy where all New Yorkers can share in our economic growth and prosperity, and today’s announcement further demonstrates the integral role Con Edison continues to play for our city’s people and businesses,” said Abby Jo Sigal, executive director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development. “For generations, Con Edison has been a source of good paying, union jobs that have provided pathways to economic mobility, and its recent commitments to invest in clean energy and support disadvantaged communities will help make the city more sustainable, prosperous and inclusive as we transition to the green economy of the future.”

     

    Con Edison works with organized labor to ensure jobs are high quality, safe, and family-sustaining. More than 55 percent of Con Edison’s workforce is represented by the Utility Workers Union of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. This level of representation is more than 2.5 times the industry average.

     

    Con Edison is helping New York meet its urgent need for clean energy workers by investing in green job training, with a focus on helping residents of disadvantaged communities. Over the next three years 1,200 individuals will have the tools they need to begin their careers in energy and technology. Through Con Edison’s $4 million in grants, four New York nonprofit organizations will support clean energy and technology workforce training for people in disadvantaged communities.

     

    Taxes

    Con Edison facilitated the payment of $4.4 billion in taxes and fees in 2023. Of these, $2.4 billion is New York City property taxes, which represents 8 percent of the total property taxes New York City collected. Con Edison customers are paying 11 times the amount paid by the City’s luxury hotels, as a point of comparison. And the City’s assessment on Con Edison infrastructure continues to grow, with 2023 tax payments 14 percent higher than in the prior report.

     

    Protecting the Most Vulnerable New Yorkers

    Con Edison advances environmental justice in its service territory through clean energy programs that benefit customers in communities New York State identified as disadvantaged.

     

    The company encourages low-income customers and those living in disadvantaged communities to take advantage of programs and incentives for energy efficiency improvements, financial assistance on customer bills, and workforce development programs.

     

    Con Edison invested $658 million in disadvantaged communities on clean energy and electric infrastructure improvements in 2023, and more than $34 million in energy efficiency incentives benefited low- and moderate-income households.

     

    477,000 low-income customers receive rate discounts totaling over $266 million on their energy bills through programs administered by Con Edison.

  • Creating Financial Security for City and State Pensioners

    In addition to spending from Con Edison’s operations, the New York economy benefits from the dividend payments and value appreciation of Con Edison stock, which provides financial security for millions of shareholders, including more than 731,000 current and former New York and New Jersey public sector employees through city and state pension funds.

     

    About the Economic Impact Report

    HR&A Advisors, Inc. analysis incorporated findings from a wide range of datasets and industry-standard economic impact assessment tools to evaluate the economic and fiscal impacts of Con Edison to New York City, Westchester, and New York State in 2023.

Principal Sarah Solon has been named as an Urban Design Forum’s Big Swings Fellow!

August 7, 2024 / No Comments

HR&A Advisors is thrilled to announce that Principal Sarah Solon has been named a part of the inaugural cohort of Urban Design Forum’s Big Swings Fellows!

 

This distinguished group of urban leaders is set to tackle New York City’s housing crisis head-on, bringing expertise from diverse fields including policy, design, organizing, public health, development, law, philanthropy, and journalism. The 2024 Global Exchange initiative, Big Swings seeks to build solidarity between leaders in New York and other cities taking “big swings” at their housing crises. By exploring the cultures and politics behind housing shifts around the world, we will equip decision-makers to better advocate for reform and support a new generation of leaders to house every New Yorker.

 

Congratulations to Sarah Solon and the entire cohort! We are proud and excited to see the transformative impact you will make on New York City’s housing landscape.

The Just Transition to Carbon-Free Buildings That We Need

July 31, 2024 / No Comments

This op-ed was originally issued by Governing. 

 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act will collectively invest tens of billions of dollars in our infrastructure and buildings. While the spending generated by these two federal laws will improve transportation, broadband and air quality while creating new industries around the country, perhaps the most concrete change for many of us will be related to the carbon footprint of the places where we live, work and spend our leisure time.

 

Among the key facets of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is its funding for investments in a variety of clean energy and power projects, both at the nationwide grid infrastructure level and at the local level. The Inflation Reduction Act leverages those investments with both funding and incentives for decarbonizing technology like heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations.

 

States, regions, counties and cities have been submitting plans, funding applications and implementation road maps associated with a range of these federal funds, and the local efforts are already beginning to impact communities.

As with any challenge of this magnitude, the true measures of success will not be the passing of laws or approval of funding but rather the actual implementation of the effort and the resulting measurable improvements to carbon emissions and other key environmental factors. Crucially, these implementation efforts must take equity and justice into account, benefiting all Americans regardless of their income level or living situation.

 

While there are countless technical challenges associated with decarbonization of buildings, most of the technology is actually pretty straightforward. If you live in a single-family home, for example, a package of solar panels, heat pumps, induction cooking and electric hot-water heaters may be all that you need to decarbonize your dwelling. All of those products are available at commercial scale, are readily installable and have a well-established track record.

 

If you live or work in a large building in an area, such as New York state or Washington state, where the electric grid is moving toward carbon neutrality, an engineer can draw plans to electrify your building so that when the grid is carbon neutral, so is your building. Again, these plans are being implemented now, with existing contractors and commercially available products. While there is every expectation that products will get better, cheaper and more efficient, we do not need to invent our way into carbon-neutral buildings. We know how.

 

The challenges are money and policy. Therefore, there are questions of who gets access to those resources and who benefits from the sea change that these laws will bring. Nationally, we have a pretty good track record of creating environmental incentives for those with access to resources. If you own a single-family home and a garage, in many states existing solar and EV incentives can dramatically reduce your costs for these products — in some cases paying back your investment in full.

 

But if you do not own your home or have limited access to upfront capital, your ability to access these incentives is far more limited. Indeed, if you are a renter, your landlord’s installation of a heat pump is disruptive, is likely to increase your electric bill and may also increase the rent on the apartment if paired with other improvements in the building. As implementation plans are developed, they must take into account the fact that 50 percent of renters are already cost-burdened.

 

While it may be true that we do not need to invent solutions, that’s not the same as saying that solutions are easy. As states and local governments develop implementation plans, the focus needs to be less on the technology and much more on addressing the questions of how to create the incentives and policies necessary to make sure that the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding are creating not just carbon-neutral buildings but a system that affirmatively addresses the environmental injustice built into the legacy system.

 

We need a system that addresses the needs of renters and low/moderate-income households and that leverages this unprecedented funding opportunity to create a sustainable approach to energy, focused as much on the people in the buildings as it is on the buildings themselves.

 

Jon Meyers is a partner at HR&A Advisors, where he advises public- and private-sector clients on the financing and implementation of complex real estate projects. He previously served as the chief operating officer of the Trust for Governors Island and was instrumental in creating an economic rationale for the reuse of the High Line in New York City.

Partner Bret Collazzi Served as a Panelist for Urban Land Institute New York’s TAP Report that Reveals Strategies for Inclusive Economic Growth in the Bronx

July 10, 2024 / No Comments

Urban Land Institute New York’s latest TAP report is out with recommendations on how to leverage a new Metro-North station in the Bronx’s Morris Park neighborhood to drive inclusive economic growth. HR&A Partner Bret Collazzi, who grew up less than a mile away from the station, served on the TAP last December and contributed to the report’s recommendations. The report highlights how the new transit link, set for completion in 2027, can support the future growth of Montefiore Health System’s Morris Park campus, one of the Bronx’s largest employers and a regional center of health science education and research. 

 

The report emphasizes the need for improved campus connections, branding, and activation of existing and new spaces to benefit both the health system and the surrounding neighborhood. We’re excited to see Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and local partners seize this incredible opportunity in the years ahead. 

 

“In pursuit of answers to Montefiore’s questions, the panel first identified a framework that needs to be in place to support any improvements to the system’s campus. Refine Montefiore’s identity and branding:  Montefiore has an excellent reputation in the community, yet it is unclear where the campus begins or ends or, following recent acquisitions, which buildings are part of the system’s network. The campus needs branding assistance and wayfinding signage, featuring this brand, is needed at the gateways to campus, along the sidewalks, at buildings, and more. Branded signage will also be critical at the train station to help guide transit riders to the campus.”

 

Read the full report here.

 

Governor Hochul Announces Transformative Projects for NYC: HR&A Advisors Celebrates Community Development in East Harlem, Garment District, and Far Rockaway

June 10, 2024 / No Comments

Governor Kathy Hochul announced 19 transformative projects for New York City under the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward programs. This investment aims to create vibrant and livable communities in East Harlem, the Garment District, and Far Rockaway.  

 

HR&A Advisors are thrilled to congratulate the recipients of the DRI and NY Forward awards! We are incredibly proud to have served and engaged with these communities, helping to develop projects that will catalyze growth and improve the lives of residents. Congratulations to all the award recipients! 

 

In East Harlem, the winner of a $10 million DRI award, ten projects will support local businesses, enhance community health, and preserve cultural heritage. Key projects include a $956,000 Community Wellness and Healthy Food Center to transform a thrift store into a wellness center offering healthy food, cooking classes, and health screenings. The Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute will receive $1.4 million for structural improvements and expanded community space. There will be a $1 million investment in storefront revitalization along East 116th Street, and $2 million will go towards transforming the 125th Street Plaza to enhance community spaces and introduce artistic elements. HR&A Advisors supported the planning team led by MUD Workshop that guided the East Harlem community through the DRI process. 

 

In the Garment District, a $4.5 million NY Forward award will support four projects aimed at bolstering the local fashion industry and improving public spaces. These include a $1.086 million Fashion Career Design Hub to create a training and coworking space for fashion professionals, a $1.5 million Technology Grant Fund to support fashion manufacturers and studios, $587,000 for green initiatives like street trees and planters, and $1.327 million for pedestrian walkway improvements along Seventh and Eighth Avenues. HR&A served as lead consultant for the NY Forward process in the Garment District, joined by MUD Workshop. 

 

Far Rockaway, another $4.5 million NY Forward winner, will see five projects aimed at revitalizing the community. These include the $2.44 million Rockaway Music, Arts & Cultural Center to transform the O’Kane Building into a cultural hub, $196,000 for Community Justice Center renovations, $1.233 million for a new affordable daycare center at JCCRP, $368,000 for maternal healthcare modernization at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, and $263,000 for modern waste bins and wayfinding signs to improve waste management and signage. HR&A was lead consultant assisting members of the Far Rockaway community throughout the NY Forward process, partnering with Fu Wilmers Design (FWD).  

 

HR&A Advisors is proud to support these transformative efforts to foster livable, vibrant, and resilient NYC communities through our continuing strategic planning and consulting efforts. Since 2017, HR&A has supported 12 communities throughout New York in the DRI and NY Forward programs.

 

Photo: Rachel Martin
 

Welcoming the 2024 Class of HR&A Summer Fellows!

June 7, 2024 / No Comments

The Summer Analyst Fellowship is a 10-week program offering the opportunity to engage in projects and skills aligned with core analytical staff at HR&A. Fellows have the opportunity to work as integrated members of our project teams and build their skills in market analysis, case study research, econometric modeling, spatial analysis, preparation of real estate pro formas for a range of uses, and public-private structures, and public policy analysis.

 

Fellows can work from any of our six offices in New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Raleigh, or Washington, DC, and they may help prepare written reports, presentations, and Excel models for clients, as well as firm marketing materials and proposals for new projects. Each Fellow is assigned an Advisor to help set goals and make the most of the experience, and many members of HR&A’s team started as Analyst Fellows.

 

 

Meet HR&A’s 2024 Summer Fellows! 

 

 

Clara Bonzi Teixeira (She/her/hers) 

Clara provides research and analytical recommendations to drive social and environmental justice initiatives.

 

Clara is currently closing out a virtual internship with the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon’s Political/Economic Section, where she is engaged in tracking political, social, and economic developments that align with U.S. foreign policy objectives. She provides insights and guidance for the Embassy team through research on topics such as climate initiatives, foreign investment, and policy compliance with international and EU regulations.

 

Previously, Clara served as an Implementation Science Fellow at Family Health International 360 in Durham, NC, where she supported the research utilization team on two public health projects. Clara also worked as a Geoprocessing Intern at Itaipu Binacional Hydroelectric Dam in Brazil, where she researched the social and health impacts of the local wastewater management program and engaged with the community through various outreach initiatives. Alongside her experience as a Research Assistant working on maternal health community programs at the Duke University Center for Child and Family Policy, Clara has developed knowledge and interest in measuring environmental and health outcomes in a policy context.

 

As an undergraduate, Clara conducted long-term research as a part of a team studying disparities in voter access among key demographic groups. She analyzed state electoral policies against Census data to observe the effects of specific initiatives on voter access among marginalized groups.

 

Clara will graduate from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Studies in May 2024. She is proficient in Portuguese and French.

 

 

Olivia Glen-Rayner (She/her/hers) 

 

Olivia brings her public service, campaign, and non-profit experience to solve the complex issues that cities face today.

 

Before joining HR&A, Olivia worked for the US House of Representatives in Congressman Nadler’s New York office.She advised the Congressman on local issues and priorities, crafted and evaluated policy to respond to district issues, and worked with other elected officials for a coordinated response. Additionally, she served as the Congressman’s representative on several working groups, Community Boards, and other governing bodies. Prior to her congressional role, Olivia held positions on high-profile presidential, Senate, House, and City Council races including as Campaign Manager of the historic NY-12 primary race in 2022. She is an AmeriCorps VISTA alumna.

 

Olivia is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. She is the incoming President of the Urban Policy Student Association. Olivia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

 

 

Steven Duncan (He/him/his) 

Steven Duncan is an accomplished urbanist and GIS analyst, currently pursuing a Master of Science in Urban Planning at Columbia University.

With a profound background in environmental and human security studies, Steven is originally from Utqiagvik, Alaska, and is passionate about using spatial technology to enhance sustainability and advocate for historically marginalized communities.

 

Throughout his career, Steven has gathered significant experience at organizations such as Hexagon US Federal, where he used geospatial technologies to assess urban flood risks. His role at Navanti Group involved addressing critical regional issues such as ethnic conflicts and food security in North Africa and the Sahel. Additionally, Steven has extensive experience in communications and public relations, having worked with the French Embassy and various nonprofit organizations.

 

Steven holds dual bachelor degrees in Human Security & Geospatial Intelligence and French from the University of Southern California, showcasing his multidisciplinary expertise and commitment to fostering resilient and inclusive communities through innovative urban planning solutions.

 

 

Tupelo Sullivan (She/her/hers) 

 

Based in the New York office, Tupelo brings her background in climate adaptation policy and community engagement, alongside her passion for sustainable transportation planning and urban resilience.

 

Prior to joining HR&A, Tupelo worked as an Environment and Sustainability Intern for the City of Miami Beach. There, she helped develop the city’s Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Adaptation Plan to understand social vulnerability to sea level rise. She also assisted in the city’s application process for Inflation Reduction Act funding for its various sustainability initiatives. Her undergraduate thesis examined opinions surrounding a managed retreat strategy in Pacifica, CA, using both qualitative content analysis and spatial analysis to investigate how residents responded to the policy and the factors that contributed to their perception of it.

 

Tupelo holds a B.A in Urban Studies with a specialization in Sustainable Development from Columbia University.

 

 

Pike Place Market Adopts Master Plan to Secure its Future as Seattle’s Iconic Landmark

May 21, 2024 / No Comments

This press release was originally issued by Pike Place Market.

 

Seattle, WA – Pike Place Market, the heartbeat of Seattle for over a century, has revealed an innovative Master Plan aimed at securing its future as the vibrant soul of the city. Developed in response to operational challenges and changing external forces, the Master Plan charts a course for the Market’s sustained success while honoring its rich heritage and authentic character.

 

The Market is faced with an exciting array of opportunities amidst its diverse challenges. From meeting operational demands to adapting to rapidly evolving external factors, such as changing consumer preferences and environmental concerns, there’s an abundance of potential for growth and revitalization. By embracing a Master Plan, the Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA) can address these challenges head-on and unlock the Market’s full potential for enduring prosperity. This plan is not just about overcoming obstacles; it’s about embracing our rich history and authentic identity while building a sustainable Market for the next 50 years.

 

Mary Bacarella, Executive Director of the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA), expressed her enthusiasm for the plan, stating, “The Pike Place Market Master Plan ensures the authentic preservation of our beloved Market while paving the way for a thriving future. This plan honors our historic purpose and commitment to the community.”

 

The Master Plan, spearheaded by the PDA Council, is endorsed by Devin McComb, Chair of the PDA Council, who remarked, “This plan offers a roadmap for the future of Pike Place Market. It encourages innovation, diversity, and inclusivity, ensuring that the Market remains a beacon of opportunity and connection for generations to come.”

 

Since 1907 Pike Place Market has embodied the essence of Seattle—a dynamic blend of culture, commerce, and community. Recognizing the Market’s vital role in the city’s fabric, the PDA Council initiated the Master Plan to address operational pressures and seize emerging opportunities. The PDA hired HR&A Advisors to guide the PDA through the Master Plan process, a consulting firm with significant experience developing Master Plans around the U.S. for entities similar in complexity to the Pike Place Market. HR&A assembled a project team consisting of BERK Consulting, Mithun, and MRA International.

 

The vision for Pike Place Market in the next 50 years is one of a supportive, diverse community and a thriving center of Pacific Northwest food, commerce, and culture. Grounded in its historic purpose, the Market will continue to serve as a community for gathering and entrepreneurship, while championing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

 

The Master Plan outlines three foundational goals:

    1. Ensure long-term financial sustainability
    2. Increase local patronage
    3. Advance a diverse, equitable, and inclusive Market

 

To achieve these goals, four key strategies have been devised:

    1. Pacific Northwest Food Life to Reattract Locals and Reenergize the Market’s Farmer Program: This strategy aims to embrace the essence of Pacific Northwest food culture to attract more local visitors and support farmers, ensuring financial sustainability while staying true to the Market’s historic purpose.
    2. Business Supports to Promote Local Entrepreneurship and Craftspeople: Focused on fostering a thriving ecosystem of local businesses, this strategy includes initiatives such as temporary spaces for small business incubation and technical assistance programs to support entrepreneurship and preserve the Market’s unique character.
    3. Sustainable Physical Investments to Maintain and Adapt the Market: This strategy prioritizes targeted capital investments in key areas of the Market, including Pike Place, First Avenue, and Western Avenue, to enhance accessibility, wayfinding, and environmental sustainability, ensuring a vibrant and resilient Market for generations to come.
    4. Partnerships to Amplify the Market as the Soul of Seattle: Recognizing the Market’s role as a provider of social services and a cultural landmark, this strategy focuses on strengthening partnerships and advocacy efforts to amplify the Market’s impact and ensure its continued relevance in the community.

 

The Master Plan reflects extensive community engagement, incorporating input from Market stakeholders, Market businesses and PDA staff. It remains flexible, allowing for regular revisiting and adjustment to meet evolving needs. Deeper engagement with the public and Market community is a priority that will continue through the Master Plan implementation to ensure inclusivity and accountability.

 

Partnerships are essential to the success of the Pike Place Market Master Plan. The Market invites stakeholders, organizations, and individuals to work together in shaping its future. Whether through advocacy or collaboration, all are welcome to engage with the Market on this transformative journey.

 

For more information on the Pike Place Market Master Plan and how to get involved, visit PikePlaceMarket.org/MasterPlan

 

About Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority PDA – Celebrating over 50 Years!
The nine-acre historic district is maintained and operated by the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA), a nonprofit public corporation created by the City of Seattle in 1973. The PDA supports the Market’s remarkable community by increasing farm and food retailing opportunities, supporting small and marginal businesses, and providing services for low-income individuals. In addition, PDA helps protect the essence of the Market by preserving, rehabilitating and maintaining the buildings within the Market. PikePlaceMarket.org

HR&A Study Finds New Sarasota Performing Arts Center Will Generate $194 Million in Annual Economic Impact

May 15, 2024 / No Comments

This press release was originally issued by the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation.

 

Sarasota, FL – March 5, 2025 – The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation is pleased to share updates to the Economic Impact Study that highlight the contributions of a new performing arts center for Sarasota and Sarasota County. Originally released last May, the updated study reflects the latest building brief and business plan, including a larger theater with 2,700 seats, which is an addition of 500 seats.

 

Prepared by HR&A Advisors—one of the nation’s foremost real estate and economic development firms—the study projects over $194 million in annual economic activity. This figure exceeds the current economic impact of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall by 68%, marking a substantial advancement for the city’s cultural and economic vitality.

 

Key findings of the HR&A Advisors study include the following:

    • Annual Economic Activity: The study projects over $194 million in annual economic activity, highlighting a significant increase in projected benefits.

    • Visitor Impact: Expected annual visitors have increased to 495,000, underscoring the center’s draw as a cultural landmark.

    • Job Creation and Wages: The performing arts center is anticipated to generate more than 1,550 permanent jobs, with annual wages totaling $68 million.

    •  Construction Phase Benefits: During construction, the study forecasts an injection of $669 million in countywide spending, creating 3,700 temporary jobs and yielding $192 million in temporary wages

    The Economic Impact Study powerfully illustrates how the arts drive community transformation,” said Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, Chief Executive Officer of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation. “Our commitment to the arts is an investment in Sarasota’s future, generating benefits that extend well beyond the creative walls.”

“Arts and culture have long been at the heart of Sarasota’s identity, drawing thousands of visitors each year,” said Alex Stokes, the study lead who was previously a principal at HR&A Advisors and now a senior advisor with Stokes Urban Strategies. “The center is poised to become a vital cultural beacon that not only enriches the community but also drives significant economic growth through new jobs, increased visitor spending, and boosted tax revenues.”

 

For more details, please visit https://www.performingartsfoundation.org/performing-arts-center

 

Read the full executive summary here.

Mills Administration and MaineHousing Announce Launch of New Statewide Housing Data Portal

May 7, 2024 / No Comments

This press release was originally issued by the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.

 

Augusta, MAINE – The Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, the Department of Economic and Community Development, and MaineHousing today announced the launch of the State of Maine Housing Data Portal, a central repository of housing and community data to support planning and actions to address housing production needs across the state.

 

The online portal, now available at mainestatehousingdata.org, builds upon the State of Maine Housing Needs Production Study (PDF) released last year, which assessed the effects of historic housing underproduction in Maine, as well as estimated housing needs in the state going forward based on current demographic trends.

 

 

The portal compiles publicly available housing market, population, and economic data for Maine, such as housing supply, rental affordability, and homeownership access, as well as detailed demographic, income, and employment information. The data is sortable by state, county, and community, and is available for export and download.

 

Through the portal, Maine communities, housing organizations, and public can assess state regional, and local housing trends to maximize housing opportunities, inform housing discussions, set housing priorities, plans, and goals, and aid development of local ordinances.

 

“This new portal is an important resource for Maine communities to help inform and advance efforts to make housing more accessible and affordable across the state,” said Hannah Pingree, Director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. “Addressing Maine’s urgent need for more housing requires a strong partnership between state, regional, and local governments. By providing ready access to the latest housing data and trends to support thoughtful housing planning and actions for the future, this portal is an investment in that partnership.”

 

“We are excited to join with the administration to offer this new tool for planners, developers, and housing leaders across Maine,” said Dan Brennan, Director of MaineHousing. “For the first time they’ll have ready access to current, detailed data to help set local housing production priorities, establish goals, and track progress.”

 

“In order to continue Maine’s economic growth, we need to increase our workforce, and ensuring appropriate housing stock is key,” said Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. “This dashboard will allow stakeholders at all levels of government to effectively address housing needs in all geographies and at many income levels.”

 

Since Governor Mills took office in 2019, the Mills Administration has allocated more than $285 million to support the construction of homes in Maine, an unprecedented level of investment that has resulted in more than 600 new homes so far, with more than 1,000 homes under construction, and more than 3,000 homes in the construction pipeline at MaineHousing – the largest number in the agency’s history.

 

The supplemental budget signed by Governor Mills on April 22 and approved by the Legislature included an additional $30 million to build more than 260 new homes in Maine, through $10 million to the Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program, $1o million to leverage Federal low-income housing tax credits, and $10 million for single-family home construction through the Affordable Homeownership Program.

 

The Study and the portal were prepared for GOPIF, DECD, and MaineHousing by national housing planning consultant HR&A Advisors, in consultation with housing stakeholders from across Maine and with authorization of the Legislature through LD 2003, landmark housing legislation signed into law by Governor Mills in 2022.

 

The State of Maine Housing Data Portal will be updated regularly. For questions about the Housing Data Portal or for guidance on its use, please contact the Maine Housing Opportunity Program at housing.decd@maine.gov.

Fixing zoning is not enough. We must proactively create affordable space for small businesses 

May 2, 2024 / No Comments

This op-ed was originally issued by Crain’s New York.

 

This spring, the City Council will vote on Mayor Eric Adams’ City of Yes for Economic Opportunity proposal – an important step for solving the myriad real estate challenges that small businesses face in a changing economy. It brings about long overdue changes to zoning created over 60 years ago by city planners who could not have conceived of how – and where – our city’s economy operates today.  As the Department of City Planning describes it, this proposal will “allow more types of businesses in more places” and remove barriers to growth.

 

It’s remarkable how outdated New York City’s zoning is. For example: Zoning dictates where haberdasheries (purveyors of men’s clothing) and millineries (women’s hat makers) can locate yet contains no mention of 3D printing.

 

Zoning also prescribes what types of stores can be located in destination commercial corridors or local retail streets. But technology has dramatically shifted how we shop, driving up brick-and-mortar retail vacancy in some neighborhoods. Prescriptive zoning makes it more difficult to adapt to a rapidly changing, unpredictable retail environment.

 

Zoning separates even relatively clean manufacturing uses from others, a vestige of a “smokestack economy.” Today, breweries, bespoke apparel manufacturers, and ceramics studios are not currently permitted on retail corridors, even though they depend on customer foot traffic.

 

Zoning in most manufacturing districts assumes all workers will drive to work, requiring so many parking spaces that it essentially makes constructing new buildings infeasible.

 

The City of Yes for Economic Opportunity proposal makes common sense changes to these outdated rules. It will allow more emerging uses like life science and urban agriculture, more types of businesses on commercial streets, and more multi-story loft buildings in manufacturing districts without onerous parking requirements near transit.

 

But the City needs to do more than update outdated regulations – it must proactively create affordable space for small businesses in a growing city with a finite amount of real estate.

 

Take one iconic neighborhood, Manhattan’s Chinatown. Chinatown has a unique historic significance to New York City and its identity is deeply tied to its legacy businesses, but those businesses face significant displacement pressures. In a study released by Welcome to Chinatown, a not-for-profit dedicated to supporting the neighborhood’s small businesses, between 2010 to 2019, rents increased by 39% and property taxes by 110% in Chinatown; in a survey, 60% of Chinatown businesses said rent costs were one of their top three challenges. While rent, labor, and supply costs are rising, many Chinatown businesses feel pressure to keep prices low: visitors expect Chinatown to be affordable, and many businesses also serve a low-income clientele.

 

To prevent displacement of businesses – and to reduce barriers to entry to new AAPI-owned businesses – the City must pilot bold strategies for creating affordable commercial space. This could include providing low-interest loans, tax credits, and/or capital to private or not-for-profit property owners who agree to limit rents. Vacant spaces could be repurposed as pop-up incubators that offer low-cost, short-term leases to allow new businesses to test the market. Larger spaces could become multi-tenant markets for both existing and new businesses – similar to the City-managed Essex Market on the Lower East Side, which has dedicated affordable space for legacy businesses. City-owned buildings could also be leveraged to offer affordable space.

 

City of Yes for Economic Opportunity is an important step towards updating archaic zoning to create greater flexibility for a changing economy, but it is just a first step. To become a national leader in promoting equitable entrepreneurship, the City should build on this momentum by piloting approaches to affordable space for small businesses, with a focus on communities of color such as Chinatown.

 

Sulin Carling is a Principal at HR&A Advisors, an economic development and public policy consulting company. As Senior Economic Development Planner at the Department of City Planning during the de Blasio administration, she developed zoning strategies that are being implemented in the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity proposal.