Real Estate & Economic Development

Real Estate & Economic Development

Multidisciplinary Expertise Fostering Fiscal and Economic Resiliency

Willdan lives at the intersection of market and policy, building understanding between the economics of development and the needs of communities. We serve public and private clients to structure successful strategic partnerships, grounded in market-driven real estate analytics and inclusive economic development strategies.

We’re a collaborative group of experienced municipal financial advisors, market analysts, economic developers, urban planners, and redevelopment strategists with a shared goal to foster fiscal and economic resiliency in the communities we serve.

Willdan offers comprehensive real estate, market, fiscal, and economic analysis; economic development strategic planning; infrastructure financing & implementation; and public-private partnership financial consulting services.

Our team integrates expertise in real estate, economic development, redevelopment planning, placemaking, branding, marketing, and public-private finance. Key services include:

  • Economic Development Strategic Planning
  • Infrastructure Financing and Implementation
  • Real Estate Advisory Services

Real Estate & Economic Development Brochure

Real Estate & Economic Development Projects & Clients List


Highlighted Projects

City of Fort Lauderdale

City of Fort Lauderdale, FL

Economic Development Strategic Action Plan

For the Sustainable Development Department’s Five-Year Economic Development Strategic Action Plan (EDSAP), Willdan performed extensive community outreach, including more than 100 individual stakeholder interviews and seven public meetings. Substantial nationwide case study research was conducted on transit-oriented development, business incubation/acceleration, and retail retention/recruitment. Project deliverables included: Economic Profile Report, Economic Development Issues Identification & Prioritization Analysis, and Economic Benchmarking Assessment comparing the City’s key statistical trends to those of nine competitive cities.

With these results, Willdan created 10 Economic Development Strategic Action Plan Initiatives focused on increasing job creation, small business growth, transportation, and parking. Implementation of the EDSAP is guided by an organizational and institutional assessment, a detailed annual funding plan, and an “Annual Economic Development Benchmarking Dashboard” to track progress in achieving the Plan’s targeted outcomes.

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Rock Region METRO/City of Little Rock, AR

Rock Region METRO/City of Little Rock, AR

River Cities Travel Center Market & Feasibility Study

When proposing the redevelopment of the River Cities Travel Center (the main Little Rock transit hub) into a “transit-oriented development anchor and Downtown destination,” Rock Region METRO contracted Willdan to provide site planning, financial analysis, and implementation strategies. To help METRO and the City explore their options, Willdan engaged 50+ real estate developers, property owners, public sector partners, and other stakeholders to test the opportunities and challenges related to three redevelopment scenarios for the site. Willdan’s well-received recommendations focused on public-private uses, including a ground floor grocery tenant, mixed-income workforce housing, and new state-of-the-art customer service operations to incorporate new technologies into Rock Region METRO’s transit services.

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City of Alameda, CA

City of Alameda, CA

Alameda Point Redevelopment Financial Analysis

Willdan served the City of Alameda during the planning and development of Alameda Point, a former naval air station. Willdan provided advisory services related to land economics, including fiscal impact analysis, infrastructure financing, and a feasibility analysis to estimate whether development could sustain the infrastructure needed to rehabilitate the base. To best help the City move forward, Willdan assisted in developer negotiations and prepared the facilities financing plan and fiscal impact analyses, which examined general fund revenues (property taxes, sales taxes, and a variety of general sources) and expenditures (public safety, maintenance, park services, and other items) that would be generated by the development.

Willdan assisted closely the City and engineering staff to estimate phases of development to create an analysis of the infrastructure’s financing revenue. The project team also prepared the analysis that included estimates of developer equity as well as financing sources, such as assessments and special taxes. To complete the planning, Willdan applied the financing plan to a feasibility analysis that examined the burden of assessments and special taxes.

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