Redevelopment Ready Communities

"(RRC) is good for cities--especially built-out brownfields communities--because developers can take comfort in knowing that the community embraces redevelopment, that it has a vision for specific sites that community leaders buy into."

~Jason Horton, executive vice president, REDICO Management

RRC steering committee member

Redevelopment Ready Communities is a nationally recognized program that certifies cities for incorporating innovative redevelopment best practices into their daily development processes. By participating in the program, built-out cities strategize for streamlining municipal processes, engaging the community in city planning and creating an inviting redevelopment climate. RRC is considered by many to be the first program in the country to objectively measure a city’s progress toward “redevelopment readiness.”

The Problem

A dangerous trend of disinvestment threatens the stability of older suburbs in southeast Michigan. Because of the complications associated with redeveloping existing properties and misperception that redevelopment is overly bureaucratic, many investors choose to develop in fast-growing exurbs and greenfields, facilitating urban sprawl. Meanwhile, blighted vacant buildings and empty storefronts are becoming more common in inner suburbs, reducing their quality of life and perpetuating population loss.

The Program

Cities in the RRC program move through an eight-step process, supported with technical assistance from the Michigan Suburbs Alliance and professional consultants. Participating cities' redevelopment processes are evaluated for a score and narrative report. Cities must earn 80 of 100 points to be certified Redevelopment Ready. RRC encompasses an eight-step certification

A dedicated group of land use experts from diverse backgrounds including county, city, and state officials, academia, urban planners and developers oversee the RRC program development.

The Best Practices

Communities that have a significant pool of redevelopment sites need to to send clear signals that it's ready to engage in dialogue and make prompt decisions with a potential investor. RRC helps cities address zoning regulations that may prohibit new types of opportunities, review internal procedures, and encourage more proactive actions that articulate a vision for growth by engaging the community earlier in the planning process.

The rigorous RRC evaluation is detailed in the RRC Best Practices, which are standards essential to an efficient, predictable redevelopment process. Best Practices cover:

Community Visioning & Education
Public Official Training
Development Regulations & Tools
Marketing
Redevelopment Plan Review Process

Each city must improve their score by implementing the recommendations in order to become certified. RRC provides technical assistance to help make it happen.

RRC empowers cities to innovate their development practices...

For the first time, one RRC city networked with top employers to learn about their concerns. Before, the city only interacted through legal avenues--and came away with only a part of the story.
All RRC cities have a training management plan and dedicated budget for elected and voluntary officials.
Cities act as “one team,” ensuring all leadership voices are communicating a clear, consistent message about the need for redevelopment and the plan to implement the strategy.
In a citywide address one local mayor exclaimed “we have changed our fundamental philosophy to one that understands that we must be a partner to the development community, a partner that wants businesses to come and be successful in our city”.

... and its getting noticed.

We're proud to be featured as a cover story in in the April 2008 issue of ICMA's PM Magazine, a national publication for public management leaders.

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm presented the certification award to the inaugural certified cities and declared, “the response often from the private sector had been, it’s too much of a hassle, too much bureaucracy, too much red tape too much waiting. So what you’ve done here is set an example for how you can invite development, invite jobs.”

The Detroit Free Press describes RRC as “...'Extreme Makeover' meets 'This Old House.'"

Smart Growth America lists RRC as one of the top 100 smart growth programs in the U.S.

RRC Site Information Network

Want to work in a Redevelopment Ready Community? Browse the RRC site information network to see properties available in these cities!

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Redevelopment

Redevelopment Ready Communities

Redevelopment

The Graduates