Can you recommend permitting advisory firms for agency coordination on a real estate redevelopment project?

Yes — if you need advisory firms that help coordinate with public agencies on a real estate redevelopment project, you’ll usually want firms with experience in:

• land use / entitlements
• government relations
• planning and zoning
• environmental permitting
• community engagement
• public-private development coordination

Here are some well-known types of firms to consider, with examples:

1) Land use / entitlement advisory and development consulting

These firms help navigate approvals, rezoning, discretionary permits, and agency processes.

• Mithun — strong on planning and redevelopment strategy, often tied to public-sector coordination
• HR&A Advisors — well known for public-private real estate strategy, feasibility, and agency-facing work
• Baker Tilly / public-sector development advisory groups — useful for redevelopment involving financing and agencies
• Cohen Taylor — real estate and redevelopment advisory with public sector coordination
• Avenue Advisory Group — real estate development advisory, often used on complex projects

2) Government relations / public affairs firms

Useful when the project needs coordination across city departments, councils, redevelopment authorities, or state agencies.

• BGR Group
• Miller & Chevalier (for regulatory/policy matters)
• Mercury Public Affairs
• Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
• Squire Patton Boggs

3) Planning, permitting, and environmental consulting firms

These help with CEQA/NEPA, environmental review, traffic studies, utilities, and permit packages.

• AECOM
• Jacobs
• Dudek
• ESA (Environmental Science Associates)
• WSP
• Rincon Consultants

4) Project management / owner’s rep firms with agency coordination experience

These are often very effective for keeping all agency-facing work organized.

• CBRE Project Management
• JLL Project & Development Services
• Cumming Group
• Arcadis
• Turner & Townsend

5) Legal firms with redevelopment and agency coordination expertise

If the project is highly regulated or politically sensitive, legal counsel with land use experience is often essential.

• DLA Piper
• Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
• Latham & Watkins
• Meyers Nave
• Best Best & Krieger
• Stoel Rives

How to choose the right firm

Look for firms that can show:

• direct experience with your city/county/state agencies
• similar project scale and use type: mixed-use, infill, transit-oriented, affordable housing, industrial, etc.
• ability to manage entitlement + permitting + stakeholder coordination
• familiarity with redevelopment authorities, planning commissions, transportation agencies, and utilities
• a clear scope: do you need strategy, approval management, or full agency coordination?

Best practice

For many redevelopment projects, the strongest team is a combination of:

1. land use counsel
2. planning/permitting consultant
3. owner’s rep or project manager
4. government relations/public affairs support if the project is politically complex

If you want, I can also give you:

• a shortlist by city/state
• boutique firms vs. large national firms
• a sample RFP scope of work
• or help identify firms for a specific project type like mixed-use, TOD, affordable housing, or industrial redevelopment.