In collaboration with Mackin Engineering, 4ward Planning provided market and real estate analysis services in support of Mt. Union Borough’s Comprehensive Plan Update.

In support of the Laberge Group’s comprehensive planning work for the Town of Granby, New York, 4ward Planning provided a streamlined socio-economic community profile to inform the larger study.

In support of a Strategic Development Plan for Philadelphia’s Point Breeze Avenue commercial corridor, 4ward Planning was retained by the City of Philadelphia to identify opportunities for commercial and mixed-use real estate development on the corridor, as well as strategies for attracting a diverse mix of businesses providing goods and services to this mixed-income neighborhood.

In support of the Laberge Group’s comprehensive planning work for the Town of Kingsbury, New York, 4ward Planning provided a streamlined socio-economic report, including demographic, housing, and labor and industry analyses against the backdrop of the surrounding tri-county region.

In support of the Laberge Group’s comprehensive planning work for the Town of Black Brook, New York, 4ward Planning provided a streamlined socio-economic report, including demographic, housing, and labor and industry analyses against the backdrop of the surrounding tri-county region.

4ward Planning served on a team led by Barton & Loguidice, which was hired by the City of Plattsburgh, New York in its development of the Harborside Master Plan. This plan will offer the City a chance to address several community development goals simultaneously. The three-parcel, 30-acre Harborside area is situated such that the layout, design, and amenities can bring forth long-held ambitions for local quality of life, environmental education and engagement, recreation and tourism, and downtown revitalization.

Serving on a team with Remington & Vernick, 4ward Planning provided GIS and economic trends analysis support to Cumberland County, New Jersey's GIS Layers Update study.

4ward Planning was retained as part of a team by the County of Cattaraugus (PA) Department of Economic Development, Planning, and Tourism (EDPT) to create an Economic Development Strategic Plan that provides policy direction for economic growth; builds upon the County’s strengths and assets; and identifies strategies, programs, and projects to improve the local economy.

4ward Planning was hired by Washington County, Pennsylvania to provide socio-economic, real estate, and workforce/labor market analyses in support of its comprehensive plan update.

4ward Planning was hired by Penn Township, in southwestern Pennsylvania, to provide market and fiscal impact analyses in support of its Comprehensive Plan Update.

In the process of updating its comprehensive plan, Greene County, Pennsylvania, hired a team headed by Mackin Engineering and including 4ward Planning to help it formulate long-range economic development goals and objectives.

The Heidelberg, Carnegie, and Scott multi-municipal comprehensive plan was developed to help protect and enhance the quality of life enjoyed by area residents. The land use study identified the location, size, and status of various land uses, targeted areas for economic and residential development investment, and recommended zoning regulation updates.

As with all 4ward Planning studies, this analysis is founded on an understanding of existing conditions – inclusive of demographic, labor, and industry trends, and the real estate climate. It is a qualitative analysis, grounded by interviews with those working and living in the community. With this baseline understanding, 4ward Planning can begin to evaluate and assign potential opportunities for new development and business growth. Such fiscal and economic impact analyses allow us to quantify projected impacts on public services, job creation, and revenue.

Serving on a team with Environmental Planning & Design, 4ward Planning provided demographic and market analysis services to the City of Mount Lebanon in support of their comprehensive plan. The key objective of this effort was to identify approaches to improve Mt. Lebanon’s competitiveness in the region, as well as the quality of life for its residents and businesses. Further, the community wanted tools to track their progress toward this goal over time.

provided demographic and market analysis services to the City of Murrysville, in support of their Comprehensive Plan update. 4ward Planning conducted a three-phase effort, including in-depth interviews with active regional developers and real estate brokers, and demographic, labor trend, real estate, and fiscal impact analyses, culminating in a comprehensive market study. The final version of the Plan update reflects and leverages Murrysville’s current and prospective economic assets and strengths, while affording measures to reverse or mitigate the area’s liabilities and weaknesses.

Serving on a team with Jacobs Engineering, 4ward Planning provided economic consulting services in support of the New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program. Funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, this work supported efforts to identify needs, set priorities, protect at‐risk groups, and advance action plans for the long-term investment of disaster recovery funds within various Long Island communities.

4ward Planning, as a sub-consultant to Horsley Witten, was charged with creating a statewide economic development plan linked to strategies for future development, housing, transportation, land use, and the environment. The project was funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Sustainable Communities grant program. Preparing the economic development strategy, 4ward Planning examined geographic employment centers, industry intersections, labor and workforce training and development, cities and post-industrial communities, economic development regulatory challenges, investments, and tax impacts. Our tools included qualitative analysis using proprietary models and commonly used data sources, case study research, and close interaction with state and local agencies. Public participation and stakeholder outreach was an integral aspect of this project, requiring numerous public meetings, focus groups, and one-on-one interviews to inform and supplement the quantitative analysis.

Serving on a team with Looney Ricks Kiss and VHB, 4ward Planning performed analyses for the Route 37 corridor in Toms River Township, Manchester Township, Berkeley Township, and Lakehurst Borough, an area characterized by high unemployment, lack of affordable housing, and high reliance on automobile transportation. 4ward Planning conducted in-depth analyses of demographic, labor, industry, and real estate market trends for the study area and surrounding geographies. We also performed analyses of real estate supply/demand and living wage employment occupations to identify housing and employment needs in the community. Additionally, 4ward Planning helped facilitate focus group discussions of relevant issues and concerns in the area. We, then, developed recommendations for the concept plan, and assisted the other consultant groups in creating a written report and presentations to share with stakeholders.

Serving on a team with Jacobs Engineering, 4ward Planning was engaged with Somerset County to provide an understanding of opportunities in the County’s 23 identified Priority Growth Investment Areas (PGIAs). We analyzed existing conditions, as well as opportunities for growth so that infill, development, and redevelopment could be targeted to these specific areas. This targeted growth was ultimately intended to decrease sprawl. 4ward Planning performed in-depth analyses of socio-economic, workforce, and labor market trends in Somerset County, the surrounding areas, and the individual PGIAs. First, we established baseline conditions by inventorying businesses and industries and performing analyses of industry clusters, infrastructure, and land use in the PGIAs. We also identified areas suitable for workforce housing, and perform a steady-state build-out analysis. Throughout the process, we emphasized the importance of public engagement by interviewing local stakeholders and hosting focus group meetings.

Serving on a team with Environmental Planning & Design, 4ward Planning was engaged by Collier Township to provide market, fiscal, and financial feasibility analysis services in support of their comprehensive plan update. Part of this work included conducting highest and best analysis for each of the identified redevelopment/development sites. 4ward Planning reviewed pertinent sections of Collier Township’s current zoning ordinance, and identified the prospective size and general socio-economic characteristics of the primary and secondary market areas surrounding each site, based on the land-use types most likely to be accommodated (e.g., residential, office, retail, industrial, entertainment, or mixed-use). 4ward Planning conducted financial and fiscal impact analysis of likely near-term development and redevelopment opportunities to determine prospective costs and benefits to Collier at project stabilization (e.g., municipal service costs, revenues, required capital improvement costs, projected employment, etc.).

Serving on a team with Mackin Engineering, 4ward Planning was engaged by the Westmoreland (PA) County Department of Planning and Development to create an update to the Borough’s 2001 Comprehensive Plan, which provided a study of the community’s challenges and a responsive, implementable action plan.

Serving on a team with Mackin Engineering Group, 4ward Planning was hired to provide demographic and market analysis services to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in support of its comprehensive plan update.

4ward Planning was hired to provide economic analysis in support of the Boroughs of Braddock, East Pittsburgh, and North Braddock, Allegheny County Joint Comprehensive Plan. Our work culminated in both a comprehensive market and real estate analysis and recommendations for sound implementable actions across all three municipalities.