The thinking behind the work
Essays from our Present Value blog, news from the firm, and our analysts in the press.
ESI’s 2025 Summer Reads and Listens
As the warm summer months roll in, so does the chance to slow down. It's the perfect time to recharge, reflect, and…
The Art of Economic Growth: Philadelphia’s Creative Economy as a Driver for Jobs, Tourism, and Neighborhood Revitalization
In Philadelphia, arts and culture is not merely a thriving sector that has generated hundreds of millions of dollars, but it is…
Expert Views: Real Estate
Takeaways from ULI’s 2025 Housing Opportunity Conference This past February, I had the opportunity to attend the Urban Land Institute’s Housing Opportunity…
Service vs. Payment: Rethinking the Relationship Between Educational Institutions and Cities Through PILOTs
The Growing PILOT Conversation Across major American cities, a contentious debate is unfolding between municipal governments and tax-exempt educational institutions. Boston, Philadelphia,…
Town Center Redevelopment as a Local Growth Strategy
As covered in past Present Value posts on retail, data, and disruption and emerging retail trends, the American retail landscape has experienced…
Moving Cities: Boston
In Boston, it’s a common commute: a passenger of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) can take a trip through the oldest…
Is Pennsylvania’s NAP Program Right for Your Economic Development Strategy
The ongoing development of our communities and neighborhoods requires investment from many stakeholders—developers, businesses, nonprofits, and states each have a role to…
Rethinking Higher Education: Moving Beyond Financial Survival Toward Meaningful Transformation
The conversation around higher education's future often centers on financial challenges. From dwindling enrollments to rising operational costs, it is no secret…
Reimagining Downtown Redevelopment
As we continue to emerge from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, there is uncertainty (and plenty of hyperbole) about…
Setting the Stage for March Madness
It’s March, which means college basketball is heating up and teams are preparing for March Madness, or the NCAA Division I tournament…
Our Clients are Shaping the Skyline and Landscape of Philadelphia
Take a Guided Tour a Selection of ESI's Philadelphia Based Projects We undertake a wide variety of projects in communities across the…
From the Vault: A Look at Transportation and Infrastructure
This Present Value post features articles related to transportation and infrastructure within urban settings. Infrastructure and public transportation are among our most important public…
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