web01.fireside.fm Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:59:43 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Zoning Reform” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/zoning%20reform Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600 Dane Carlson explores the strategies, ideas, and insights that are driving economic development forward into the future. You'll hear new insights from passionate ED's about their successes and struggles, and you'll learn from attraction and retention experts about how to apply actionable strategies inside your EDO. We'll help take your organization, your community, and your career to the next level. en-us episodic Actionable economic development strategies and stories Dane Carlson Dane Carlson explores the strategies, ideas, and insights that are driving economic development forward into the future. You'll hear new insights from passionate ED's about their successes and struggles, and you'll learn from attraction and retention experts about how to apply actionable strategies inside your EDO. We'll help take your organization, your community, and your career to the next level. no econ dev, economic development, ed Dane Carlson show@econdevshow.com 204: From Company Town to Community Vision with Jessica Huble https://podcast.econdevshow.com/204 2bfb2c79-ce7b-4c9a-8cb6-e9737e227afe Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 204 From Company Town to Community Vision with Jessica Huble full Dane Carlson A deep, practical conversation about how the City of Sugar Land is approaching redevelopment, density, land constraints, and long-term fiscal sustainability while preserving identity and community trust. 28:39 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Jessica Huble, Assistant Director of Redevelopment for the City of Sugar Land, Texas, to explore how a landlocked, master-planned suburb is rethinking growth, housing, and economic sustainability. The conversation dives into Sugar Land’s unique history as a company town built around Imperial Sugar, the creation of a dedicated Department of Redevelopment, and why single-family housing alone cannot support a city’s long-term finances. Jessica explains how community engagement, honest trade-off conversations, flexible planning, and city-led redevelopment of the historic Imperial site are shaping Sugar Land’s next chapter, offering lessons for any community facing limited land, changing markets, and rising expectations. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! 10 actionable takeaways for economic developers If your city is landlocked, every acre decision is a long-term financial decision Single-family housing alone will not sustain municipal services over time Create space for redevelopment before crisis forces it Be honest with residents about trade-offs, not just benefits Sales tax strategy matters just as much as property tax in many states Avoid being overly prescriptive in RFQs and redevelopment plans Lead with outcomes and identity, not tenant wish lists Community visioning works best when residents are asked real questions Historic assets should inform the future, not freeze it Cities that fail to adapt risk losing relevance, not just revenue Special Guest: Jessica Huble. econdev, economic development, eco devo, redevelopment, landlocked cities, density, sales tax, historic districts, zoning reform, public-private partnerships, community engagement, fiscal sustainability, suburban growth In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Jessica Huble, Assistant Director of Redevelopment for the City of Sugar Land, Texas, to explore how a landlocked, master-planned suburb is rethinking growth, housing, and economic sustainability. The conversation dives into Sugar Land’s unique history as a company town built around Imperial Sugar, the creation of a dedicated Department of Redevelopment, and why single-family housing alone cannot support a city’s long-term finances.

Jessica explains how community engagement, honest trade-off conversations, flexible planning, and city-led redevelopment of the historic Imperial site are shaping Sugar Land’s next chapter, offering lessons for any community facing limited land, changing markets, and rising expectations.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

10 actionable takeaways for economic developers

  1. If your city is landlocked, every acre decision is a long-term financial decision
  2. Single-family housing alone will not sustain municipal services over time
  3. Create space for redevelopment before crisis forces it
  4. Be honest with residents about trade-offs, not just benefits
  5. Sales tax strategy matters just as much as property tax in many states
  6. Avoid being overly prescriptive in RFQs and redevelopment plans
  7. Lead with outcomes and identity, not tenant wish lists
  8. Community visioning works best when residents are asked real questions
  9. Historic assets should inform the future, not freeze it
  10. Cities that fail to adapt risk losing relevance, not just revenue

Special Guest: Jessica Huble.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Jessica Huble, Assistant Director of Redevelopment for the City of Sugar Land, Texas, to explore how a landlocked, master-planned suburb is rethinking growth, housing, and economic sustainability. The conversation dives into Sugar Land’s unique history as a company town built around Imperial Sugar, the creation of a dedicated Department of Redevelopment, and why single-family housing alone cannot support a city’s long-term finances.

Jessica explains how community engagement, honest trade-off conversations, flexible planning, and city-led redevelopment of the historic Imperial site are shaping Sugar Land’s next chapter, offering lessons for any community facing limited land, changing markets, and rising expectations.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

10 actionable takeaways for economic developers

  1. If your city is landlocked, every acre decision is a long-term financial decision
  2. Single-family housing alone will not sustain municipal services over time
  3. Create space for redevelopment before crisis forces it
  4. Be honest with residents about trade-offs, not just benefits
  5. Sales tax strategy matters just as much as property tax in many states
  6. Avoid being overly prescriptive in RFQs and redevelopment plans
  7. Lead with outcomes and identity, not tenant wish lists
  8. Community visioning works best when residents are asked real questions
  9. Historic assets should inform the future, not freeze it
  10. Cities that fail to adapt risk losing relevance, not just revenue

Special Guest: Jessica Huble.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 157: An Optimistic Reimagining of the City with Coby Lefkowitz https://podcast.econdevshow.com/157 5aea211c-183c-43bb-afaa-92113e6c7437 Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 157 An Optimistic Reimagining of the City with Coby Lefkowitz full Dane Carlson Coby Lefkowitz, author of "Building Optimism: Why Our World Looks the Way it Does, and How to Make it Bette", discusses infill multifamily development and building better communities through thoughtful urban planning. 39:00 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Coby Lefkowitz, co-founder and partner at Backyard, a real estate development firm specializing in infill multifamily projects in walkable communities. Coby shares insights from his book "Building Optimism: Why Our World Looks the Way it Does, and How to Make it Better" and discusses how communities can evolve through better development practices, emphasizing the importance of context-specific solutions and the integration of mixed-use spaces in urban planning. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Actionable Takeaways Take tours of successful mixed-use developments to understand what works Avoid one-size-fits-all solutions; focus on context-specific development Consider integrating residential and commercial spaces in development plans Work on making communities more walkable and accessible Engage with smaller and medium-sized developers for more dynamic development Study successful pedestrian mall implementations and failures Focus on creating vibrant, integrated community spaces Understand local context before implementing development strategies Build relationships between economic developers and city officials Consider gradual implementation of mixed-use zoning reforms Special Guest: Coby Lefkowitz. econdev, economic development, eco devo, infill development, walkable communities, mixed-use, urban planning, economic development, community building, real estate development, zoning reform, Back to the Cities, contextual solutions In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Coby Lefkowitz, co-founder and partner at Backyard, a real estate development firm specializing in infill multifamily projects in walkable communities. Coby shares insights from his book "Building Optimism: Why Our World Looks the Way it Does, and How to Make it Better" and discusses how communities can evolve through better development practices, emphasizing the importance of context-specific solutions and the integration of mixed-use spaces in urban planning.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Actionable Takeaways

  1. Take tours of successful mixed-use developments to understand what works
  2. Avoid one-size-fits-all solutions; focus on context-specific development
  3. Consider integrating residential and commercial spaces in development plans
  4. Work on making communities more walkable and accessible
  5. Engage with smaller and medium-sized developers for more dynamic development
  6. Study successful pedestrian mall implementations and failures
  7. Focus on creating vibrant, integrated community spaces
  8. Understand local context before implementing development strategies
  9. Build relationships between economic developers and city officials
  10. Consider gradual implementation of mixed-use zoning reforms

Special Guest: Coby Lefkowitz.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Coby Lefkowitz, co-founder and partner at Backyard, a real estate development firm specializing in infill multifamily projects in walkable communities. Coby shares insights from his book "Building Optimism: Why Our World Looks the Way it Does, and How to Make it Better" and discusses how communities can evolve through better development practices, emphasizing the importance of context-specific solutions and the integration of mixed-use spaces in urban planning.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Actionable Takeaways

  1. Take tours of successful mixed-use developments to understand what works
  2. Avoid one-size-fits-all solutions; focus on context-specific development
  3. Consider integrating residential and commercial spaces in development plans
  4. Work on making communities more walkable and accessible
  5. Engage with smaller and medium-sized developers for more dynamic development
  6. Study successful pedestrian mall implementations and failures
  7. Focus on creating vibrant, integrated community spaces
  8. Understand local context before implementing development strategies
  9. Build relationships between economic developers and city officials
  10. Consider gradual implementation of mixed-use zoning reforms

Special Guest: Coby Lefkowitz.

Sponsored By:

Links:

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