BlueWave Strategies works with developers as a strategic advisor and, in some cases, as an equity partner to design and execute environmental strategies that increase profitability and decrease the environmental impacts of their real estate ventures. Led by John DeVillars and Stephanie Pollack, BlueWave's Real Estate team is well known for the major role our professionals have played in shaping federal, state, and local policies that encourage brownfields, smart growth and transit-oriented development. For the past five years, we have been advancing several successful development projects in New England and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our team is demonstrating how environmentally sound real estate strategies can help developers increase their return on investment, avoid costly regulatory and political problems, reduce permitting time, and bring both economic growth and environmental benefits to communities. BlueWave works with partners and clients who share our commitment to environmental leadership, the "double bottom line" of profitability and sustainability, and honest and open dialogue with communities and regulators.

Regulatory and Permitting Strategies

BlueWave brings an extensive understanding of and experience in local, state and federal regulatory reviews and associated political processes. We leverage this knowledge to develop and execute strategies for cost-effective, timely regulatory approvals. BlueWave's collaborative approach adds value to the project team ensuring the most cost-effective use of other team members such as attorneys and public relations consultants.

Capital Sourcing

Numerous federal, state and local agencies offer financial incentives for environmentally superior projects and similar funding may be available from energy utilities (for energy-related projects) and philanthropic sources (for projects that involve a not-for-profit developer). U.S. EPA alone has over 20 grant and assistance programs that directly apply to aspects of smart growth development including transportation, water resources and open space conservation. BlueWave has extensive knowledge of these programs and a high rate of success in securing such funds for our clients and partners. In addition, our team has strong relationships with numerous private equity capital sources.

Stakeholder Outreach

BlueWave has a proven track record of implementing successful community, public agency and regulatory outreach programs; facilitating multi-stakeholder processes; and aligning community, political and regulatory interests in support of environmentally sound projects. BlueWave also works with our partners and clients to draft compelling and substantive outreach and marketing materials such as websites, PowerPoint presentations, fact sheets and brochures that can be used to present a development project to multiple audiences.

Environmental Liability and Risk Management

The professionals at BlueWave understand the most effective ways to control and mitigate the risks associated with environmental aspects of development projects, particularly concerning contaminated brownfields properties. Working in concert with a client's legal and insurance team, or with our own risk management affiliates, we help implement a strict and thorough risk management process, if necessary, using multiple layers of financial assurance mechanisms to manage and mitigate any potential environmental liabilities.

Environmental Impact Mitigation Strategies

For projects where conventional approaches to mitigation of environmental impacts would be too costly or otherwise unfeasible, BlueWave has extensive experience in crafting innovative approaches to environmental compliance that can reduce the cost and time associated with permitting while achieving environmentally superior results

“Greening” Projects and Environmental Review Documents

BlueWave professionals are trained and experienced in green design and planning. We help clients increase revenues and decrease costs through the "greening" of their development plans and buildings. BlueWave prepares sustainability analyses, which are increasingly being required as part of environmental review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act and are now required of large development projects under the City of Boston's Article 80 large project review process. For clients who want certification of their green buildings, BlueWave's LEED Accredited Professionals are available to navigate client projects through the certification process.

City of Boston — Article 80 “Greening” Requirement

On January 10th, 2007 the City of Boston became the first major city in the U.S. to require private real estate developers to build "green" by incorporating a minimum number of sustainable design or "green building" features into their projects. BlueWave works with developers to ensure that their projects meet these requirements in a way that minimizes costs, coordinates environmental commitments with project timelines, and expedites permitting.

Smart Growth Housing (Chapter 40R)

Massachusetts legislation provides substantial financial incentives for communities to adopt zoning overlay districts, enabling development of dense housing near transit and on brownfields sites. BlueWave assists developers and municipalities to coordinate the planning, legal work, and community and government outreach needed to develop and enact Chapter 40R zoning.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Many dense, mixed-use real estate projects require close integration with local, state and Federal agencies to ensure that necessary public and private transportation and other infrastructure is in place to support the project. BlueWave assists developers to forge creative and collaborative strategies for securing and financing needed transportation and other infrastructure improvements. We have particularly strong ties to transportation officials in Massachusetts, where Stephanie Pollack co-chaired Governor Deval Patrick's Transportation Working Group.

Environmental Project Management

For large, complex projects requiring multiple environmental, engineering, and legal consultants (e.g., remediation, water/wastewater, sensitive species, transportation, wetlands, site planning etc.), BlueWave helps select, establish budgets for and manage these consultants' activities, achieving substantial cost savings and efficiencies for the development partners.