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Learn / Who advances districts? / Investors / Real Estate Developers
Real estate developers can transform the physical landscape of districts, creating attributes of complexity, density, and mixed uses and activities. They can also be district champions—thinking and supporting the district over the long-term and being the bridge for companies to move into a district.
Whether government-owned or privately-led, real estate developers play a role in advancing a district’s physical and economic transformation. Yet, research and deep engagement with many different types of developers demonstrates there is a more valuable way to make some distinctions:
Our work with innovation district leaders suggests in some places, real estate developers are met with caution, if not disdain. However, the right developer can become one of the district’s most focused and action-oriented champions. The key is to assess their prior projects and goals—and their ability to strengthen ecosystems.
Who Advances Districts?
Other actors advancing innovation districts
Ecosystem builders
Accelerators and incubators, Other types of intermediaries, New kinds of anchors
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