ICSC, in partnership with the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), recently hosted a congressional staff briefing focused on the federal policy levers needed to accelerate adaptive reuse and redevelopment across the country.
The bipartisan discussion brought together congressional staff, industry leaders and policy experts to explore how outdated commercial properties can be transformed into vibrant mixed-use and residential assets that support housing supply, economic growth and downtown revitalization.
The briefing featured insights from two leading practitioners at the forefront of redevelopment. Jenn Gregory, president of Downtown Strategies at Retail Strategies, shared on-the-ground perspectives from municipalities nationwide, emphasizing the importance of federal tools that build local capacity and help communities recruit investment into aging downtown corridors. Jair Lynch, president and CEO of Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners, highlighted the capital, regulatory and financing realities developers face when undertaking complex infill and adaptive reuse projects, underscoring the need for federal tax incentives, regulatory certainty and better alignment across housing, environmental and economic development programs.
Panelists and participants discussed how existing federal programs—including the Historic Tax Credit, New Markets Tax Credit, Opportunity Zones, HUD financing tools and brownfields programs—can be modernized and better coordinated to support adaptive reuse at scale. The conversation also explored the growing interest in commercial-to-residential conversions and the importance of federal policies that reduce uncertainty, improve project feasibility and unlock private capital without creating unnecessary complexity. As Congress considers ways to address housing supply challenges, revitalize downtowns and promote sustainable redevelopment, ICSC will continue to engage policymakers on solutions that allow retail and mixed-use real estate to adapt and reinvest in communities nationwide.
Abby Jagoda, ICSC senior vice president, Public Policy, moderated the session, which featured Jair Lynch, president and CEO of Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners, and Jenn Gregory, president of Downtown Strategies at Retail Strategies.