Red Cedar Project: Economic and Fiscal Impacts

Continental/Ferguson Lansing, LLC commissioned Anderson Economic Group to update our 2018 economic impact analysis of a proposed development located at the former Red Cedar Golf Course in Lansing, Michigan. We completed our study in the fall of 2018 using information pertaining to the development plan at that time. The Lansing City Council used our report […]

Expanding the Lead Safe Ordinance in the City of Philadelphia

 

Expert Report on Economic Consequences of Disallowing Nonrecourse Protection in Commercial Lending

 

Residential and Retail Market Strategy: Downtown Sandusky, Ohio Waterfront District

 

Sandusky Main Street and the City of Sandusky contracted Anderson Economic Group (AEG) to develop a strategic plan to enhance its historic downtown which is situated along Sandusky Bay and Lake Erie.

To assess public concerns, habits, and preferences, AEG conducted an on-line survey and met with key project and district stakeholders. The on-line survey, which was promoted in the local newspaper and on stakeholder websites, received over 350 responses. After evaluating the survey and stakeholder responses, AEG analyzed market characteristics of Sandusky and Erie County (including the area’s demographic and socioeconomic profile), and the retail composition, spending behavior of its residents, and the implied opportunities for growth and expansion of specific retail categories. Through a supply – demand analysis, primary data analysis, market assessment, and interviews with local realtors, we also determined the number of residential units – both owner occupied and rental – at specific price ranges the local market could support.

Results from each of these analyses provided insight into the unique opportunities for future growth, and strategies the community can use to achieve their vision. AEG completed this project with strategies and specific recommendations for increasing residential use and diversifying the retail and entertainment offerings in the district. We provided the Sandusky Main Street with our analysis, key findings, and recommendations in a loose-bound report, complete with executive summary and appendices. Included in the appendices are detailed results from the public outreach process, demographic and socioeconomic analysis, several custom maps, methodology, and complete findings from the residential and retail supply-demand analyses. As a final task, we made presentations of our findings and the strategy to both the Main Street Organization and the Sandusky City Commission. 

 

The Likely Economic Impact of a Chicago 2016 Summer Olympics

Anderson Economic Group, LLC, is an economic consulting firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois; East Lansing, Michigan; and Los Angeles, California. We have prepared this independent analysis of the likely economic impact of the proposed 2016 Summer Olympics in Chicago, and are making it publicly available before the IOC announcement date of October 2, 2009.

We are preparing this study to provide other Chicago-area businesses, as well as taxpayers and policymakers, a realistic assessment of the actual costs and benefits of hosting the games. Our analysis of past major events, and our past evaluations of the value of sports-related and other businesses, gives us a unique position to carefully examine this question.

Boosters of large sporting events and stadium construction have sometimes claimed economic benefits that later proved far too good to be true. However, our analyses of both sports franchises, and cities in which sporting teams oper-ate, show that some events can provide economic benefits that far exceed the costs. Given the scale of the Olympics, and the exposure it would give to Chi-cago on a world stage, it is certainly worth carefully considering the costs, risks, and benefits.

We have used a rigorous methodology to estimate the likelly economic impact of events like the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Luxury Vehicle Dealership Site Selection: Detroit, Michigan Area Dealership Group

As part of its dealership restructuring efforts, one of the Detroit Three invited current dealers to submit proposals for a new luxury vehicle dealership in suburban Detroit. Our client, a large dealership group in the Detroit area, retained us to assist in evaluating the OEM’s preferred site and an alternate site that was believed to be better positioned in the market.

We began with an assessment of the current dealer network in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. This included a drive-time analysis to assess market coverage, both for the current structure and for the structure after the known dealerships closing. We next identified the most likely site for a new dealership in the OEM preferred area and our client’s preferred area, and delineated a market area for each, accounting for drive-times, infrastructure networks, natural barriers, and the market areas for existing dealerships. A demographic and socio-economic analysis was done for each trade area, focusing on variables that predict the success of luxury automobile dealerships. We also analyzed luxury vehicle registration data from RL Polk to measure historic vehicle purchase patterns in each market. Lastly, we considered site specific factors, such as visibility, traffic count data, and proximity to other luxury vehicle dealerships.

Our final results were summarized in a memorandum and presentation to the client, and found the client preferred site to be a much stronger location. Our deliverable  included summary data tables and custom maps showing market areas, demographics, and luxury vehicle registrations. The memorandum and presentation was included by our client in their proposal to the OEM.

Market Snapshot-Demographic and Socioeconomic Analysis: Main Street Newnan, Georgia

Anderson Economic Group completed a market snapshot for the Main Street Newnan organization in Georgia, located southwest of Atlanta. The purpose of providing Newnan Main Street with the market snapshot was to help bolster the organization’s plans for attracting and recruiting business, and to uncover potential strengths and opportunities in the downtown.

We worked with Main Street Newnan to determine the downtown’s center of market activity and its likely primary and secondary market areas in terms of drive-time distances. We next used our Geographic Information System (GIS) to plot the location and delineate the drive-time boundaries on a map. To provide a visual display of key data in the community, we customized maps to display the current year per capita income and population density, and projected percent population change, all at the block group level.

The primary and secondary market areas and the county were further analyzed to provide a detailed understanding of Newnan’s demographic and socioeconomic make-up for the current year and projected trends over the following five years. Relevant categories, including age, income, households, education attainment, and consumer expenditures were detailed in a table and summarized in a narrative to explain the trends and key points.

The market snapshot product is being used by Newnan Main Street in their business and other attraction efforts.

 

Market Snapshot: Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce

 

Anderson Economic Group completed a market snapshot for the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce (TC Chamber) in Michigan. The purpose of the market snapshot was to help bolster plans for attracting and recruiting business, provide a marketing piece for promotional efforts, and to uncover potential strengths and opportunities in the area.

We worked with the TC Chamber to determine downtown Traverse City’s center of market activity and its likely primary and secondary market areas in terms of drive-time distances. We next used our Geographic Information System (GIS) to plot the location and delineate the drive-time boundaries on a map. To provide a visual display of key data in the community, we customized maps to display the current year per capita income and population density, and projected percent population change, all at the block group level.

The primary and secondary market areas and the state were further analyzed to provide a detailed understanding of Traverse City’s demographic and socioeconomic make-up for the current year and projected trends over the following five years. Relevant categories, including age, income, households, education attainment, and consumer expenditures were detailed in a table and summarized in a narrative to explain the trends and key points.

The market snapshot product is being used by the Traverse City Chamber in their business and other attraction efforts, and was used as a marketing handout at their annual Economic Forecast Breakfast in November 2009. Patrick Anderson, Anderson Economic Group’s CEO, also spoke at the event, and contributed to the region’s “2010 Economic Outlook” report.

For a copy of the market snapshot, and the 2010 Economic Outlook report, you can visit: http://www.tcchamber.org/events/economic-forecast-breakfast

 

Mixed-Use Market Study and Development Strategy: Northern Michigan University, Marquette

Northern Michigan University retained Anderson Economic Group to conduct a market study and strategy for the development of university owned property in Marquette, Michigan. The commission of this report opened the opportunity for the proactive planning of future development efforts, the return of underutilized property to productive uses, and the physical and social connection of the campus and community.

Our approach began with a field assessment in Marquette, followed by community outreach through online surveying, meetings with community stakeholders, and focus groups for the business community, area residents, university faculty and staff, and students. Findings from the community engagement helped to qualify results from our retail and residential supply and demand analyses, which identified opportunity for growth in various retail categories and housing value brackets to complement the existing stock. Our recommendations included illustrative development plans for the property, and specific development guidelines and tenant recommendations to enliven the area, connect the campus to the community, and bring in each element of living, working, and playing.

We provided the university with a full report which included an executive summary and appendices that contained explanations of the methodology used, detailed findings from the analyses, custom maps, and results from the community engagement process. We also provide pro forma financial models for the development to illustrate the financial considerations related to the project.

Land Use and Infrastructure Investments by Olympic Host Cities

 

On Friday, October 2nd, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will select a host city for the 2016 Summer Games. The City of Chicago has submitted an extensive and thoughtful bid book that proposes a compact games centered on the lakefront and embracing the diversity of the city. Many cities would welcome the opportunity to achieve global recognition, and while the Olympics accelerate that opportunity, not every city is well-equipped to host the Games.  Chicago has that necessary aptitude to be a host city and can take advantage of the resulting benefits.  However, to gain the optimum benefit from the 2016 Summer Olympics, Chicago must use the Games as an investment catalyst that will spearhead long-term improvements in infrastructure, new developments, and city amenities and services.

 

Chicago 2016’s bid book includes a thorough budget for hosting the Games.  However, it does not elaborate on costs, or revenue sources, associated with improvements to municipal infrastructure, such as roadways, airports, public transportation, public spaces, and telecommunications.  These projects are simply said to occur as part of the city’s “natural growth.” Simply following the path of natural growth, however, would result on a significant missed opportunity to fully leverage the Olympic Games.

 

In this paper we address the issue of long-term land-use and infrastructure projects (legacy projects) that Olympic host cities commonly undertake, and the potential economic benefit of these legacy projects. This builds upon another recently released paper on the topic of the Olympics and their economic impacts—The Likely Economic Impact of a Chicago 2016 Summer Olympics—that was authored by one of this paper’s co-authors. That paper focused solely on the economic impacts that the games, as presented in Chicago 2016’s bid book, would likely have on the city and county. This paper goes a step further and discusses strategies for maximizing public investments so that projects commissioned prior to the Olympics create long-running economic value within the city.