Planning for the physical revitalization of a community provides a unique opportunity to find new or better ways of meeting human needs through creating a plan to develop, encourage and increase the skills and knowledge of the individuals in a community.  We call these skills “Human Capital.”

At McCormack Baron Salazar, we cultivate Human Capital by connecting physical structures to meaningful investments by us, non-profits, school districts, and private foundations in the community’s priorities, such as quality educational opportunities, job training programs, day care, health services, youth activities such as sports, arts, and after-school programs.

The idea is to revitalize an existing neighborhood from the ground up, not just by building new housing, but also by providing support for the community and its residents.  It is not about gentrification. Rather it is about ensuring that residents can continue to live in the community while new residents are attracted. 

Over thirty years of experience has taught MBS that the development of certain community and supportive services in the revitalized communities reduces the economic fragility and insecurity of families, increases the likelihood of upward mobility of low income families, increases social integration among all residents of the mixed income community, creates the environment for improved school performance of low income students, and cuts down on crime. It is vital to the success of this venture that the supportive services and amenities are planned and organized as an integrated service network linked to the housing revitalization strategies – allowing residents to return to the site, move into new homeownership, and make the best decisions for themselves and their families.

This integrated approach to urban community building is congruent with the mission and program direction of an increasing number of both national foundations and of local foundations in the cities in which we are working. A partial list of our foundation partnerships appears below:

• Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Danforth Foundation
• Enterprise Foundation
• Ford Foundation
• Gateway Foundation
• Greater New Orleans Foundation
• Kemper Foundation
• Knight Foundation
• McKnight Foundation
• Rockefeller Foundation
• Soros Foundation (Open Society Institute)
• St. Louis Community Foundation
• Surdna Foundation
• Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis

By cultivating Human Capital, an urban revitalization effort becomes holistic and transformative—addressing the physical, social, and economic challenges faced by a community. Increasing Human Capital contributes to the growth and development of a community by creating the foundation of human networks, programs, and services needed to build a strong, sustainable, lasting community.