Site Acquisition (and site selection "siting" analysis) New Ventures Group is a real estate and development consulting firm that helps public agencies to identify, analyze, permit and acquire real estate and real estate rights for the development or expansion of public facilities. Since 1993, we have provided acquisition and other real estate consultation services for numerous schools, municipalities, police and fire stations, civic theaters, equipment yards and other public facilities. Systematic Site Selection Approach New Ventures Group develops a thorough list of site alternatives by physically combing the entire study area and researching public tax and title records and other data bases. Next, we work with the client to establish site selection criteria against which alternative sites can be judged and we evaluate the sites using a weighted scoring system. Finally, the scores are tabluated, the sites are ranked, and the entire process is documented in detail. Thorough documentation is critical for two reasons: Public Scrutiny - the public may criticize the site selection and ask to review the selection process Permit Requirements - most likely, the documentation will be needed for SEPA or other permit applications Land acquisition for public agencies differs from typical private sector transactions. Critical differences are: Public Involvement Site selection is typically made by committee and the public is often invited to participate in the process. The siting consultant must be very conscious of impacts to individual property owners and neighborhoods, as well as sympathetic to the concerns of the general public. Site Assemblage Public agencies often require new facilities and sites in mature neighborhoods where vacant land is extremely rare. Often the best solution is an assembled site. Properties Not for Sale Public agency clients may select properties that are not for sale. The acquisition of these properties involves numerous added legal and political complexities. The siting consultant must be experienced working with Eminent Domain issues and be very aware of the concerns of the sellers, as well as the political sensitivities of the client.