| Not every city has the proper political and social | | | | as a new mall or office park. The red tape and |
| environment to sustain growth. In fact, there are | | | | barriers would be so thick, that it would take |
| some cities who are completely opposed to | | | | years and years before a project would ever be |
| growth and work very hard to maintain the | | | | approved- or ever approved for that matter. City |
| status quo, regardless of how the world is | | | | officials would simply lay every obstacle in your |
| changing around them. | | | | route before they would allow such huge changes. |
| Land developers and investors specifically look for | | | | These are the cities a land developer MUST avoid |
| cities that are fully open to growth and progress. | | | | unless they want to spend 3-5 years spending |
| Cities that have municipalities open to growth and | | | | money and trying to get a project approved. |
| development are prime locations to build large | | | | The third is state law restricts local governments |
| commercial and multi-family properties. These | | | | from planning growth. So the local government |
| cities often have future land use maps where | | | | may have ideas, but the state restricts them |
| they outline land and color code them based on | | | | from actually moving forward. There may be |
| the zonings, or type of properties they will allow | | | | extremely strict guidelines or jurisdictions or even |
| within the border. This is a city that is looking to | | | | conflicting views between the local and state |
| grow and they actually have a plan for it. These | | | | governments. And you know where this leaves |
| cities will be ready to help you with anything you | | | | the land developer or investor? In the middle |
| need to get that land developed, especially with a | | | | running around with no real future for a project. |
| growing population or major change in | | | | This is where you do NOT want to find yourself. |
| infrastructure. | | | | As you can see, there are multiple reasons as to |
| The cities that are not open to growth have | | | | why a land developer or investor would not want |
| three major characteristics that are clear signs | | | | to work in a specific city. You can easily find out |
| that growth or development are NOT in their | | | | by asking to the local brokers. You can ask them |
| future. | | | | if the municipality is open to development. They |
| The first is purely political. Even if city officials are | | | | will either say, oh yes definitely. In fact, they may |
| pro-business and development, well-organized | | | | mention that the local government will provide tax |
| opposition can sway votes and cause projects to | | | | incentives for the jobs that are created and will |
| die. Maybe not with the city, but with the people | | | | be willing to help any way they possibly can. Or, |
| in the city as well. The city officials may have an | | | | you may get, our city government is very strict |
| election coming up or there are strong opposing | | | | and it takes a while for projects to be approved. |
| forces and any major moves may hurt their | | | | A simple discussion with the local brokers and |
| campaign and position. It could even carry to the | | | | even Chamber of Commerce will give you a good |
| lenders in that if they realize there is opposition, | | | | idea if they will be open to working with you and |
| even though they could say "Yes," they will say | | | | your proposal. Otherwise, no matter how good |
| "No," to avoid public ridicule. Politics can be a huge | | | | the deal looks theoretically, leave it alone if the |
| constraint to growth in a city. | | | | city won't cooperate. Don't expect that red tape |
| The second is that the people voted into local | | | | to disappear- it rarely does without a good, long, |
| office are elected to keep the city the way things | | | | expensive fight. |
| are. The politicians are put into office because of | | | | As a commercial real estate land developer or |
| their commitment to keep things the same so | | | | investor, the golden rule is to only work in cities |
| growth and development are out of the question. | | | | that are willing to work with you. It makes the |
| They focus in maintaining not growing which is | | | | process so much easier and enjoyable working in |
| suicide for a developer. You can bet 30 acres of | | | | a city that welcomes your presence and efforts. |
| raw land zoned commercial will not be approved | | | | |