Background
A private client engaged our team to develop preliminary green infrastructure and site design concepts in support of a stormwater grant application submitted to the regional wastewater district. The project focused on an infill parcel located within a fully urbanized watershed — an area where redevelopment opportunities are often constrained by existing infrastructure, limited space, and complex stormwater challenges. The site was envisioned as a catalyst for reinvestment, with the potential to demonstrate how thoughtful design can transform underutilized urban land into a resilient and environmentally responsive development.
Approach
We approached the project with a holistic perspective, recognizing the need to balance redevelopment goals with watershed-scale stormwater performance. Utility system mapping, environmental data, future land use plans, and zoning districts were carefully reviewed to identify redevelopment opportunities that aligned with local planning objectives while supporting innovative green infrastructure investments.
The team evaluated how stormwater could be managed as an asset rather than a constraint, exploring solutions that complemented the urban context and enhanced long-term site value. Conceptual mass grading design and detailed stormwater modeling were performed to assess the feasibility and performance of multiple green infrastructure strategies. These analyses helped quantify benefits, refine design concepts, and demonstrate how targeted investments could improve water quality, reduce runoff, and support sustainable redevelopment within a dense urban environment.
Results
Our site design and development team delivered a series of integrated concepts that paired market-driven urban redevelopment with site-based green infrastructure solutions. These concepts illustrated how redevelopment could move forward while contributing meaningful environmental benefits to the surrounding watershed.
The resulting designs supported the client’s grant application and were used to pursue funding for a constructed wetland and bioswale adjacent to a new commercial building site. Together, these elements advanced a compelling vision for redevelopment — one that leverages green infrastructure to improve stormwater management, strengthen environmental performance, and inspire future investment in urban infill communities
Markets: Water and Wastewater
Services: Community Development, Site Development
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