Maybe I’m just waking up to the reality that many of us have already been breathing into, but I am passionate that our industry is building the future, not taking advantage of it. We all have the great privilege of benefitting from massive infrastructure investments made by prior generations, but somehow it seems as if the current culture or trend in our community (and perhaps across the nation) is one more focused on maximizing our individual return in the “now” instead of making investments for the future.
Large or mega projects present many challenges, not the least of which is affording them and ensuring they are cost efficient. But finding ways to fund essential big projects is critically important because deferring them has multi-dimensional consequences. First, an expensive project doesn’t usually get cheaper when you postpone it. It reminds me a lot of growing up in the early 80’s recession and being told by my parents that we were only spending family funds on what we need. The things we want just have to wait. A good family example is having to spend all the extra money on replacing the roof of the house (something we needed) instead of a new TV, furniture or remodeling (things we wanted). If the roof is deferred and leaks, all the other items we spent money on would be damaged AND the roof still needs repair – only now the work is much more expensive. I would make the same argument for communities facing schools O&M levies, street maintenance funding, or the mounting burden of maintaining our state highways, bridges and ferries.
If you are a contractor, a developer, or an agency leader responsible for transportation, water, sewer, parks, power or a telecommunication provider, I think you can’t wait any longer for everyone else to see the value in what you do. It has to start with us. We tend to be perceived as project-focused instead of future-focused. We need to take every opportunity to promote the value of building our future and that is what you are doing for them, not to them.
People often malign many of us for supporting or championing land development or infrastructure projects because they are convinced that we must have some ulterior motive or to just make money. I refute that stereotype. Our projects improve the community, bringing new tax revenue to the region and making it a better place to live and work. I think we owe it to ourselves and this important industry to share our passion for building, maintaining and growing our communities because paying it forward is the responsible thing to do. It’s the right thing to do. Doesn’t everyone want their kids to be able to live, learn, work and thrive here when they grow up? I do.
Tim Schauer is president of Vancouver-based MacKay Sposito Inc. He can be reached at tschauer@mackaysposito.com.
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