Economic and Community Planning

Translate economic evidence into actionable plans for places and people.

What this looks like in practice

  • Comprehensive and master plan economic chapters

    Demographic, employment, housing, and fiscal foundations for citywide and small-area plans.

  • Neighborhood and corridor revitalization strategies

    Market positioning, anchor tenanting, and phasing for commercial districts.

  • Equitable development frameworks

    Strategies designed to advance growth without displacement.

  • Implementation roadmaps

    Sequencing, governance, and financing strategies to move a plan from document to delivery.

Our clients are

  • Looking for an economic foundation to inform a broader community or comprehensive planning process
  • Seeking strategies to jump start a stalled district or corridor in need of investment
  • Translating a future vision into an achievable and financeable sequence of steps
  • Committed to shaping how growth is shared, not just whether it occurs

Featured projects

Recent engagements where the analysis shaped a transaction, program, or policy decision. View all case studies

Real Estate and Land Use Planning · 2025

Baltimore City and Baltimore County Cross-Jurisdictional Corridor Planning Pilot

The Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) engaged ESI and Equitable Cities Collaborative to design and implement a pilot project focused on improving coordination between Baltimore City and…

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Economic Development and Sector Strategy · 2025

Montage Mountain Economic Development Plan

Lackawanna County commissioned an interdisciplinary team led by ESI, including The Riddle Company and Kimley-Horn, to create an economic vision and strategy for Montage Mountain, which…

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Real Estate and Land Use Planning · 2025

Rhode Island Avenue Planning Study

The District of Columbia Office of Planning engaged ESI, in partnership with Jon Stover & Associates and SmithGroup, to conduct a comprehensive planning study for the…

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Related practice areas

Core services represent ESI's key analytical frameworks. See our practice areas for how our analysis relates to our areas of expertise.

Real Estate and Land Use Planning Our planning work builds on the same market and feasibility analysis behind our real estate practice. Explore Economic Development and Sector Strategy Community plans often start from a read of the industries and sectors driving the local economy. Explore

Economic analysis for decisions that matter

Tell us about your project or question, and we will tell you how our analysis can help.

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