March 2023
News + Updates
Highlights
ESI Celebrates 10 Years!
We care deeply about our work as well as who we do it for and with. We raise a glass to you all for journeying with us, and ask you to join us in raising a glass to this firm. Here’s to many more years!
Register Today for ESI's Higher Education Webinar Series
In April and May of 2023, ESI will host a series of weekly mini-webinars addressing critical issues currently facing the higher education sector. Topics will range from navigating supplier diversity, to understanding HBCUs and economic development, organizational leadership in uncertain times, as well as the current and future role international students will play at American institutions. These discussions will be led by a diverse group of thought leaders and industry experts.

All sessions will be moderated by Lee Huang, President of ESI and Lead Principal for ESI’s Universities and Hospitals practice.

These mini-webinars will occur every Tuesday from April 4 to May 23, 12:00-12:30 pm.
Read the Philly Tree Plan
Last year, ESI was commissioned by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to calculate the economic impact of the new Philly Tree Plan. The Philly Tree Plan is a strategic plan for the equitable growth and care of Philadelphia’s urban forest, commissioned by the City of Philadelphia and led by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. It calls for a sizable investment in tree planting and care across Philadelphia, with a primary focus on communities determined to be in highest need of additional tree cover.

Pew Report on Pennylvanians' Retirement Savings
In an update to our 2018 report produced by ESI for the Pennsylvania Retirement Security Task Force, which undertook analysis of the statewide revenue and expenditure implications of insufficient retirement savings in Pennsylvania over the 2015-2030 period, we looked at updates to each category of statewide and county-level impacts for the years 2020-2035.
NYCEDC Adaptive Reuse Report is out now!
In 2022, ESI and Packard Beasley Consulting were engaged by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to provide management and technical support to a city-council mandated task force study that provided strategic recommendations to encourage the conversion of vacant or commercially unviable office space to other uses, with an emphasis on housing. Throughout the project, the ESI team worked closely with the New York City Department of City Planning, who managed the task force.
Events
ESI is a Supporting Sponsor of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia's County Leadership Reception on March 27.
ESI is sponsoring the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia's Vision Zero Conference on March 31.

The 2023 Vision Zero Conference focuses on approaches to Vision Zero that help move toward an equitable future.
Staff and Senior Advisor Updates
Congratulations to Tiffany Hudson on her promotion to Associate Director.
Congratulations to Janet Gleason on her promotion to Senior Analyst
Congratulations to Senior Advisor Joyce Lee on her appointment to the US General Service Administration's Green Building Advisory Committee, where she will represent the architecture sector with the ability to advise GSA on high-performance green building matters. 
Congratulations to Senior Advisor Cori Packard Beasley who recently joined Georgetown University's Real Estate Masters program faculty!
Senior Advisor Bernadine Hawes was highlighted by NIST on her manufacturing experience.
Senior Advisor Michael Pearson spoke on the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast about selling his company Union Packaging as well as preparing for life after a sale.
Senior Advisor Bernard Markstein was quoted in a recent Business Journal article highlighting a survey which found most companies were planning on hiring in 2023 in a job market that shows few signs of slowing down.
Senior Advisor George Tsetsekos of Maple Glen Strategic Advisors released 7 trends impacting US institutions of higher-ed in 2023.
Senior Advisor Geoffrey Roche served on a panel discussing the state of Black health in Pennsylvania. Read about it here. 
Factors Affecting Spillover Impacts of LIHTC Developments: An Analysis of Los Angeles was recently listed on SSRN's Top Ten download list. The paper, co-authored by ESI Principal Richard Voith and former Associate Director Jing Liu demonstrates that affordable housing investment improves neighboring property value which enables cities to be more inclusive and attractive places.
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Join our Growing Team!
We are currently inviting candidates to check out our open positions and apply today. Please don't hesitate to direct those who might be a good fit as well. We'd love to work with you!

Positions include:

  • Administrative Associate
  • Director
  • Associate Director
  • Senior Analyst
  • Analyst
  • Center for the Future of Cities Fellow
Since the departure of Steve Wray in February, ESI Senior Vice President and Principal Gina Lavery has taken over as the lead contact for the Center for the Future of Cities.
We're excited that Gina will be picking up where Steve left off, and we will continue to explore quality of place, reimagining smart cities, and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems.

To learn more about the Center for the Future of Cities and to get involved, contact Gina Lavery, Lavery@econsultsolutions.com.

We are also accepting applications for Center for the Future of Cities Fellows. Learn more about the position here.
U.S. - China Research
The Weakening Comprehensive Advantages of China's Manufacturing Industry

During the era when globalization progressed smoothly, China actively participated in the world market, with its comparative advantages. Especially after joining the WTO in 2001, it established its position as the "world's factory" in global manufacturing. However, approximately twenty years later, the international and domestic environment for China's manufacturing industry has undergone significant changes, and future development is facing systemic and trend-based challenges.

Present Value
by Peter Angelides
As part of ESI’s year-long celebration of turning ten, we are looking back on some of our projects over the years. For the month of March, we showcase 10 projects from our real estate practice. Real estate encompasses affordable housing, transit oriented or adjacent development, open space and the environment, and other related concepts. 
ESI Senior Advisor Richard Bickel examines the significance of land use and transportation linkages and how transit adds value to development projects which can support broader community goals and objectives when planning at the neighborhood, community, county, and regional scales.
by John LaVaccare
ESI Senior Analyst John LaVaccare discusses the unique public transportation infrastructure of Pittsburgh for this week's Present Value post. This article is part of the firm's Moving Cities series, dedicated to exploring the vast diversity of cities and how their transit systems shape them.
In 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, authorizing over $1 trillion to repair infrastructure in the United States. What will its impact be and how can we optimize the return on this massive investment?
Client Spotlight
University Place 3.0 is scheduled for completion and will be ready for tenants in April!
A proposed Center City skyscraper will bring 292 units to the intersection of 21st and Ludlow streets, according to planning documents.

The paid surface parking lot at 14-30 S. 21st Street, owned by Parkway Corporation, is one of several the company has used to pursue residential and commercial development in recent years.
PIDC welcomes Jodie Harris as its new president, ending a six month national search
Reading Terminal Market celebrates 130 years in business. Congratulations!
NYCEDC announces a new ferry route from Bay Ridge to Wall Street
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