Universities are compelled to act as real estate developers out of self-preservation, the need for expansion and by long-standing commitments to neighborhood redevelopment.
"Universities are involved in the development of their immediate neighborhoods for a variety of reasons. For some, it is a matter of self-preservation and marketing, as neighborhood deterioration and disinvestment can negatively affect student enrollments. Other institutions are driven primarily by the need for new or updated facilities, such as laboratories, classrooms, student housing or athletic fields, which require expansion beyond existing campus boundaries, or by a long-standing commitment to neighborhood redevelopment. However, in tight urban real estate markets, where renters and low-income households already feel the threat of displacement, university expansion plans can serve to intensify residents' apprehensions and lead to complicated land use disputes. Universities have responded to disinvestment and dilapidation in their neighborhoods by using a variety of strategies."
Thanks to Gabriel F. Grant
FULL STORY: Universities as Developers

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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

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Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension
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