Day Two Panel Recap: Currently Commercial Live - From Site to Operation

At Currently Commercial Live, presented by Resimplifi, moderator Courtney Ettus, Council member Steven Robillard, Simon Enwia, CCIM, and Robby Eaves, CCIM took attendees behind the scenes of data center development, exploring the infrastructure, political and community considerations that can make or break a project. 

More Than Finding the Right Site 

Power and connectivity may top the checklist, but the panel made one thing clear: a viable site is only the beginning. From water and infrastructure capacity to regulatory hurdles and community acceptance, successful data center development requires developers and brokers to think beyond the property line. 

The major takeaway? Start building relationships early. 

The panel stressed the importance of engaging, elected officials, community leaders, and residents well before development begins. Understanding local priorities and clearly communicating potential benefits, including jobs, tax revenue and infrastructure investment, can help turn community concerns into productive conversations. 

As demand for data centers continues to grow alongside AI and cloud computing, CRE professionals have an opportunity to play a critical role in what comes next. 

Find the power. Know the community. Build relationships. Plan early. 

And the conversation didn’t stop there. Stay tuned for our next panel recap on The Future of CRE: Perspectives from Top Brokerage Leaders, where we’ll break down more insights from industry leaders and the trends shaping what’s next in commercial real estate.