It is really the CDC that does the heavy lifting and has their ear to the ground for the political land mines. We involve CDCs in all aspects of our development, including site selection, acquisition, and marketing. It is really the political savvy of the CDC that makes it crucial for us to work with them. CDCs are great at bringing in investors and developing partnerships, which should not be discounted. In order to attract a developer, the business side of the equation must make sense.
Location is important as well as the market and the track record of the community.
We have heard a lot about transportation. One community does not want light rail, one community added a transportation link that helped to define the neighborhood, and one community wants to expand access for reverse commuting. As a transportation authority, it is very difficult for us because we don't have the resources to provide the type of transportation that is needed. It comes down to planning and inclusion. My job is to go out and communicate.