We’re Better Together
At ISI Demolition, collaboration shows up in every phase of our work from early planning to final site transformation. While “we’re better together” isn’t a formal tagline, it’s a belief that consistently shapes how we approach projects, partners, and our role in the broader development ecosystem.
That belief works hand in hand with ISI Demolition’s tagline: Generations of Experience. Delivering Innovative Transformations. Experience builds the foundation. Innovation drives what’s next. And collaboration is what allows transformation to happen at scale.
That same mindset is what has drawn ISI Demolition into deeper involvement with NAIOP Maryland, the leading association representing commercial real estate developers, owners, and industry partners across the state.
The Reality Developers Are Facing in Maryland
Maryland’s future growth is increasingly tied to redevelopment, not expansion. As a land-constrained state, the ability to repurpose existing sites is what will determine whether projects move forward or stall.
But redevelopment today is carried by real pressure:
Land is limited and approvals are complex.
Zoning, entitlements, and development approvals are taking longer and becoming less predictable, increasing both timeline risk and financial exposure before a project ever breaks ground.
Energy and building performance standards are reshaping projects.
New regulations affect not just building systems, but how tenants operate inside buildings. This adds cost, planning complexity, and long-term uncertainty for owners and developers.
Taxes, fees, and cost layers continue to rise.
In some Maryland jurisdictions, demolition and redevelopment fees alone can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars before site work even begins. While many policies are rooted in good intentions, the cumulative financial burden creates real barriers to getting deals done.
Infrastructure and power are under strain.
Aging public systems and limited energy capacity are becoming quiet deal-breakers for certain project types, an issue playing out not just in Maryland, but across fast-growing states like Florida and Tennessee as well.
These are not abstract policy issues. They directly affect:
• Whether projects are financially viable
• How fast deals move
• How much risk developers and contractors absorb
NAIOP’s Role: Managing Political Risk in a Challenging Environment
Through its Legislative Committee, NAIOP works to ensure that the people shaping policy understand what actually happens in the field on job sites, in financing meetings, and during multi-year redevelopment timelines.
Conversations with leaders like Tom Ballentine, NAIOP-MD Vice President for Policy and Government Relations, and Tom Pilon, Chairman of the NAIOP Maryland State Legislative Committee and Executive Vice President of Development at St. John Properties, consistently emphasize the urgency behind this work.
NAIOP’s focus isn’t political, it’s practical:
- Bipartisan and data-driven Preserving redevelopment feasibility
- Bringing economic reality into regulatory discussions
- Ensuring sustainability goals are cost effective and feasible
- Keeping Maryland competitive with surrounding states
Much of this work happens quietly, while most real estate professionals are rightly focused on running their businesses. But the downstream impact shows up clearly in project approvals, budgets, financing terms, and redevelopment strategy.
Why This Matters to ISI Demolition—and Our Clients
As Director of Business Development at ISI Demolition, Mark McWright works closely with developers, contractors, and project teams every day. His involvement on the NAIOP Legislative Committee doesn’t change how ISI Demolition operates on every site but it does fundamentally strengthen how we understand the full redevelopment landscape.
Mark has been serving on the legislative committee since 2020. His exposure to state-level development challenges influences how ISI Demolition supports projects through:
- Smarter front-end planning
- Better alignment with developer risk
- More informed sustainability and reuse strategies
- Clearer expectations around regulatory delays and cost pressures
This allows ISI Demolition to be more than a demolition provider. It allows us to be an informed pre-construction partner. We can help clients anticipate obstacles, sequence work more effectively, and move faster through complex redevelopment environments.
Just as importantly, it reinforces ISI Demolition’s position as an active, responsible member of the development supply chain, contributing to long-term market strength, not just individual projects.
Why Awareness Makes the Industry Stronger
Every developer, GC, and trade contractor operates inside the same system of approvals, infrastructure limits, energy constraints, and regulatory pressure, whether they follow it daily or not.
NAIOP’s work ensures that:
- Industry voices are represented before policy becomes a roadblock
- Long-term economic growth stays part of the conversation
- Redevelopment remains possible in a land-limited state
- Risk doesn’t quietly shift entirely onto project teams
The more informed the industry is, the stronger its planning becomes, and the better it can protect:
- Project pipelines
- Workforce growth
- Capital investment
- And long-term regional commitments
A Long-Term View Worth Investing In
Despite today’s challenges, Maryland still holds enormous advantages: a skilled workforce, world-class institutions, access to major markets, and a deep commercial real estate base. As Tom often emphasizes, water finds its level. Markets adapt. Growth follows thoughtful collaboration.
The future may carry pressure but it also holds opportunities for those willing to stay engaged.
Moving Forward—Together
NAIOP is always seeking subject-matter experts and engaged professionals to contribute insight as new legislation emerges. The work may not always be visible but its impact touches every deal, every redevelopment plan, and every future project.
For ISI Demolition, involvement is simply another way we continue to live out a belief that guides how we work with our partners:
We’re better together.
When developers, contractors, engineers, and policymakers move forward with shared urgency and long-term vision, we don’t just transform sites, we strengthen the markets that support our communities for generations to come.
