Certification requirements: To be certified, a
property must be available for immediate sale or lease at an
established price, have supporting documents that describe available
utilities and services, and unimproved sites must be physically and
technically developable. Retail properties are not Certifiable.
Third Party Verification
- Cobb, Fendley & Associates, Inc.
- Privately-held, Houston-based consulting engineering firm providing civil engineering, real estate and surveying services since 1980
- The firm offers traditional engineering related development services (Site Development, Surveying, etc.) as well as public financing and public-private partnership services
- CobbFendley Offices: Austin, Dallas, Frisco, Houston, League City, San Antonio
Process of Certification
- Property Identification: Local economic development organization, landowner, and/or broker identify a select property appropriate for certification, and download application from Partnership or ally's web site.
- Criteria Self-Review and Document Compilation: Owner or Broker and economic development organization complete application and checklist by conducting a self-directed comparison of the property to the minimum standards for property certification. Letters from utility and service distributors are arranged. An aerial photo, site vicinity map, flood insurance rate map (FIRM) panel, zoning maps (if applicable), city GIS utility map (if available), stormwater detention requirements, and survey are also required for unimproved properties.
- Application Submittal: Complete application, checklist items, permission letter from owner (if applicant is not owner), and non-refundable application fee are submitted to the Partnership.
- Application Verification: Third-party consultant reviews application documents to verify that all of the Certification criteria have been met.
- Property Certified: Upon third-party approval, property is officially 'Certified'. Certified Property is listed on Partnership's GIS, given a premium designation and listing on Commercial Gateway, and included in Opportunity Houston marketing materials. Certified Property seal may be used in marketing materials to promote the site.
