Big Project Agreements Yield Big Community Benefits

Tired of battling developers over projects that could harm their urban neighborhoods, some community leaders are embracing a new, more cooperative strategy that allows proposals to go forward but also assures that residents will benefit from them. The new strategy uses what are called “Community Benefits Agreements” between developers and community leaders. The legally enforceable documents spell out specific benefits that developers agree to provide residents, institutions, and businesses located close to their proposed project — perks such as affordable housing, contributions to neighborhood schools, and job training.