While many CFAs have proven to be effective tools to improve the economic development process, many criticisms have been raised. Perhaps the most important criticism is that the CBAs do not offer the opportunity to ensure that they are truly representative of the needs and wishes of the Community. The Atlantic Yards CBA, for example, has been criticized for being negotiated by only a handful of community groups, all funded by the developer, while many other community groups have been excluded from the negotiations. A report by the New York City Bar Association also questioned whether CBA negotiators will conduct good deals with developers and whether CBAs will disrupt the planning process. Various legal problems related to executions and counterparties can also weaken the effectiveness of the CBA. [17] Inclusion. The CBA negotiation process can provide a mechanism to ensure that the Community`s concerns are heard and addressed. While some cities do a good job of researching and responding to community inputs, many do not. Low-income neighbourhoods, non-English speaking regions and communities of colour have historically been excluded from the development process. Laws on public notices and participation are often poorly enforced and formal public hearings often take place at times and in places that are not favourable to the neighbourhood.
A CBA negotiation process can help address these issues and provide a forum for all parts of the community concerned. CBA campaigns to spread the economic benefits of development in low-income communities are also attacking New England. In December 2014, the Somerville Redevelopment Authority and Union Square Station Associates reached an agreement for a major development project that would include a community planning process and a CBA. [5] The planning process should include public workshops, public design carts, community notices in several languages, and a neighbourhood plan for the rehabilitation of seven blocks. [6] In order to facilitate the CBA`s negotiations, the Mayor of Somerville commissioned a real estate consulting firm, LOCUS, to conduct public relations and involve the community. [7] Some local officials who want to encourage the use of CBAs in their cities have considered guidelines requiring developers to negotiate CBAs. The Community Benefits Law Center generally advises 2 per cent on this approach: (1) It is not clear who will negotiate on behalf of the “community” in such circumstances and the process could be marked by well-connected and well-equipped interests; and (2) For projects that do not receive grants (or are the subject of another government agreement), the KBA may be subject to the same legal constraints that govern the conditions for approval of the project, thus limiting the types of community benefits that can be included. This is why a representative and enforceable CBA can be one of the most effective tools for communities wishing to share the benefits of development in their neighbourhoods, even in long and time-consuming times and time. In 2008, New York City selected a development company, Related Companies, to transform the armory into a shopping mall. KARA leaders, along with lawyers representing them pro bono, met with related officials to negotiate a CBA focused on disseminating economic benefits through Community stakeholders.