ABSTRACT
Innovation districts are becoming increasingly popular in cities across the country, touting their mix of production, creative office, and other uses as employment drivers. However, since industrial uses can often afford much lower rents than the other uses in the district, they are displaced over time, negating the vibrant mix. An emerging strategy to address these challenges is the combination of zoning and financial incentives with the involvement of a mission-driven nonprofit management entity that has some equity, operational control, and ability to engage with the surrounding residential and commercial community to send the proper signals to property owners to maintain the mix of uses.
