Redevelopment

Redevelopment & Quality of Place

Building a Stronger, More Competitive Longview

Redevelopment isn’t about buildings — it’s about competitiveness.
Housing, water, broadband, infrastructure, and quality of place now determine whether employers can grow and whether talent chooses to stay in East Texas.

The Longview Chamber is committed to strengthening the systems that support economic success. Through collaboration, data-informed discussion, and strong partnerships, we’re helping Longview build for the future.

Why Redevelopment Matters to Business

Businesses thrive in communities where people can find housing they can afford, access reliable infrastructure, and enjoy a high quality of life. When these elements fall out of balance, employers face real challenges with retention, recruitment, and expansion.

Redevelopment is workforce strategy.
Redevelopment is business climate strategy.
Redevelopment is economic strategy.

The Chamber’s Role

The Chamber is not a developer — we are a catalyst.
We convene leaders, identify barriers, elevate business needs, and help shape practical solutions that support economic vitality.

We focus on:

Bringing business, community, and government partners together
Identifying obstacles that limit growth
Supporting implementation of the City’s Housing Study
Monitoring critical infrastructure issues, especially water and broadband
Learning from high-performing peer communities
Educating employers on redevelopment’s impact on talent attraction and retention

Core Priorities:

1. Housing & Attainability

Building a healthy, attainable housing market that supports a modern workforce

In 2024, the Chamber launched the Affordable/Attainable Housing Task Force, a cross-sector group charged with identifying barriers and accelerating solutions aligned with the City’s Housing Study.

Key focus areas include:

Housing availability at workforce-appropriate price points
Production barriers (land, capital, regulations, timelines)
Builder and lender engagement
Employer perspectives on housing shortages
Redevelopment opportunities tied to quality of place
Long-term tools to support a sustainable housing ecosystem

As employers compete for talent, housing continues to surface as one of the region’s most pressing challenges.

2. Water, Infrastructure & Capacity

Ensuring Longview is development-ready

After local conversations around aquifer sustainability and groundwater management, the Chamber convened the Local Water Task Force. This group focuses on understanding long-term water reliability, regulatory clarity, and potential impacts on development and business expansion.

Our work also supports ongoing alignment around infrastructure issues including:

Water supply and long-range planning
Freight and rail mobility
Roadway and transportation capacity
Broadband access and affordability

A strong infrastructure backbone is essential for business confidence.

3. Quality of Place & Community Design

Talent chooses communities that offer connection, amenities, and opportunity

Quality of place is now a business issue. Through the Chamber’s InterCity Trip Program, local leaders study best practices from communities that excel in redevelopment, downtown revitalization, education partnerships, and destination amenities.

Recent visits — including Lynchburg, VA — provide valuable insights on:

Downtown vibrancy
Mixed-use redevelopment
Riverfront activation
Talent-driven placemaking
University and employer partnerships
Long-term public–private investment strategies

These lessons inform conversations at home about what Longview’s next chapter can look like.

Five-Year Highlights (2021–2025)

Launched the Affordable/Attainable Housing Task Force
Established the Local Water Task Force following aquifer sustainability concerns
Elevated redevelopment as a core pillar of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan
Strengthened relationships with developers, lenders, and builders
Led InterCity Trips to study high-performing redevelopment models
Increased regional understanding of the business implications of housing, water, and infrastructure