As housing and community development discussions intensify nationwide, multifamily housing professional Jeff Herter is urging local leaders, business owners, and residents to shift focus from short-term solutions to the long-term vitality of their neighborhoods. With over fifteen years of experience in multifamily properties, Herter contends that thriving communities are rarely the product of a single major project or policy. Instead, they emerge from a series of deliberate, interconnected enhancements that foster welcoming, connected, and resilient environments.
“People often look for one thing that will transform a neighborhood,” Herter said. “In my experience, meaningful change usually comes from a series of smaller improvements that build on one another. It might be a local business opening its doors, a park being renovated, or homeowners investing in their properties. Those individual decisions create momentum.”
This perspective aligns with research from the National Association of Realtors, which identifies neighborhood quality, access to amenities, and nearby businesses as leading factors in residential choices. Communities that prioritize walkability, public spaces, and local services tend to attract both current and prospective residents.
Herter emphasizes that successful neighborhoods are defined not only by physical structures but by the people who inhabit them. “When I visit a community, I pay attention to more than the property itself,” he said. “I notice whether local businesses are busy, whether people are spending time in parks, and whether residents seem connected to the neighborhood. Those are often signs that people believe in where they live.”
He also advocates for patience in revitalization efforts. “There is a tendency to look for immediate results,” Herter said. “But healthy communities usually develop over years, not months. Progress often comes from making thoughtful decisions consistently instead of trying to solve everything at once.”
Demographic shifts across the country, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, underscore the importance of neighborhoods that offer robust amenities, safe public spaces, and opportunities for lasting connections. Herter believes every community possesses inherent strengths that can anchor future growth. “I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is focusing only on what needs to be fixed,” he said. “Every neighborhood has something worth building on. When communities recognize those strengths and continue investing in them, they create places where people want to stay.”
The role of small businesses is particularly significant. “Small businesses are often among the first to demonstrate confidence in a community,” Herter said. “When entrepreneurs choose to open a restaurant, a coffee shop, or another local business, they are making a long-term commitment to that neighborhood. Those investments help create places where people gather and build relationships.”
Rather than measuring success by rapid transformation, Herter advocates for steady, sustainable progress. “The strongest neighborhoods I've visited weren't necessarily the newest or the most expensive,” he said. “They were places where people cared about their community and continued making small improvements year after year. That's what creates lasting success.”
Herter encourages residents to actively participate in their communities by supporting local businesses, attending neighborhood events, volunteering, and taking pride in their surroundings. Long-term neighborhood growth, he asserts, is a collective endeavor—one that thrives through the cumulative contributions of many individuals over time.
