Economic Development in the Bay with Dena Belzer from Strategic Economics.

In this Capstone Conversation episode, Dena Belzer of Strategic Economics discusses how East Bay cities can drive innovation and economic development while meeting RHNA housing requirements and deciding when to preserve or repurpose industrial and older office properties. She explains that many “warehouse” buildings are flexible assets that can support a range of uses, and advises cities to avoid overly prescriptive zoning, focusing instead on compatibility, hazards, and health and safety while allowing flexibility in uses and parking. Belzer describes how inflation and tariffs raise construction costs and create capital-market uncertainty, complicating housing feasibility as incomes lag rent growth, and outlines shifting regional demand that reconcentrates activity near core innovation hubs. She shares findings from Solano County strategic planning on targeting middle-wage job growth through better regional positioning, supply-chain development (including Travis AFB), and stronger subregional collaboration, emphasizing that housing supply is essential to economic development and that data centers require more nuanced understanding.