How communities are planned and connected can have a lasting impact on health, mobility, and resilience. At the Greenbuild 2026 International Conference + Expo, VHB highlighted the importance of district-scale infrastructure through a panel discussion focused on Brooklyn’s 28-acre Alafia development.
Moderated by Lior Melnick, Senior Sustainability & Mobility Consultant at VHB, Investing in the Invisible: Engineering Resilient, Healthy Neighborhoods brought together public- and private-sector leaders to discuss how infrastructure investments can support vibrant, walkable communities from the earliest phases of development. Grace Belisle, Project Manager at VHB, joined representatives from L+M Development Partners, Apex Building Group, and Empire State Development for the conversation.
Using Alafia as a case study, the panel examined an infrastructure-first approach that prioritizes shared mobility, civil, and stormwater systems before individual buildings are delivered. Speakers discussed how early investments in these often unseen systems can reduce development risk, accelerate community benefits, and support affordable housing, healthcare access, and open space as part of a connected neighborhood.
"Residents experience a neighborhood as a connected system, not a collection of individual projects. The streets they walk, the open spaces they gather in, and the infrastructure working behind the scenes all influence daily life," said Grace. "One of the most valuable aspects of Greenbuild is the opportunity to share approaches that others can adapt to their own projects. Every community is different, but the conversation reinforced how thoughtful coordination early on can help build resilience into a neighborhood from the ground up."
In addition to the panel presentation, Ryan Prime, Donny Goris-Kolb, and Meghan Wrenn attended the conference, connecting with industry leaders and participating in conversations about sustainability, resilience, and the future of community development.
As communities across the country continue to address climate, housing, and infrastructure needs, Greenbuild remains an important forum for sharing ideas and advancing projects that create lasting community value.
Learn how VHB helps communities advance sustainability and resilience through integrated infrastructure planning, mobility solutions, and climate-responsive design.
