Fair Growth?
The community benefits movement is pro-growth, but understands that growth must come with a measure of justice and that it must be sustainable.
Making a profit usually trumps community concern when it comes to commercial construction projects. But now there’s a way to ensure both. Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are contracts that engage public- and private-sector stakeholders in a different kind of development — one that enables profits, fuels positive economic development and benefits the community. These agreements allow community involvement in the land development process. The Annie E. Casey Foundation convened experts on both sides of the issue in 2007 to discuss CBAs as a tool for helping low-income neighborhoods become a partner in the redevelopment process.
The first full-fledged CBA came in 2001 when a broad coalition of community groups negotiated a far-reaching agreement with the developer of the Los Angeles (California) Sports and Entertainment District (the Staples Center expansion project).