ESI Blog: Present Value
Present Value was created as a platform for sharing ideas, discussing our interests and improving connections with our community. Each week, we invite guest contributors from the ranks of our senior advisors, industry experts, and thought leaders.
Old City District in Philadelphia has long been a tourist destination for American history lovers. With 4.3 million annual visitors to the Independence National Historic Park and the recent honor of being named America’s first World Heritage City, Old City has solidified itself a top historic landmark in the U.S. While this deep rooted history […]
As I sat down to lunch on April 17th at Joe’s American Bar and Grille, I stared around the crowded restaurant. The dining room was filled with excited athletes, many of whom were wearing their official blue and yellow Boston Marathon jackets. Digging into my $23 chicken, I considered the economic impact these running enthusiasts […]
As with all topics surrounding immigration, there is controversy. The EB-5 visa investor program, whose aim is to bring foreign money and create jobs, is no exception. Media coverage skyrocketed this past fall with the fast approaching program deadline. For years, the program has been accused of “selling green cards to rich people” and being […]
Decoding Tax Policy Issues of tax policy and administration can often be clouded. They can be overly complicated and overtly politicized, making it difficult for the taxpayers to fully understand their tax code and what their taxes are being used for. Serving as the foundation for financing government services and programs, it is important for […]
Since the fall of the Wall in 1989, Berlin has emerged as one of Europe’s cutting edge intellectual, cultural, and economic centers. For anyone interested in the evolution of transportation and development patterns, visiting Berlin is a bargain: you can see two cities for the price of one. Following WWII, significant public and private capital […]
Once a vibrant commercial corridor, the built environment of Ridge Avenue in North Philadelphia has suffered from decades of economic decline and neglect. Recently, the neighborhood just west of Broad Street known as Francisville is on the rise, with several vacant and blighted properties being converted into a mix of affordable housing and upscale market-rate […]
[View the story “APA National Conference 2016 – Emerging trends, highlights, and the future of planning” on Storify]
On April 1, Philadelphian thinkers, planners, data enthusiasts, and civic leaders met for the monthly Open Access PHL meeting. The convening’s focus was on neighborhood development and revitalization, which brought a diverse set of speakers – Ellen Weber, Lee Huang, Saleem Chapman, Omar Woodard.
Vacancy and blight can be found corroding property values and the quality of life of neighborhood residents. There are many housing studies that measure the impacts of such negative circumstances occurring in a neighborhood. For example, many papers have evaluated the neighborhood impact of foreclosures, which are a major cause of vacancy and blight. It is […]
Water – The New Oil ? In 2008, while doing some personal visioning for my financial future, I compiled a list of stocks that were proving to be ‘quiet giants’ and were becoming a type of international utility. Water companies such as Suez caught my eye. Suez had already stated to acquire US-based water management companies. […]