HAGERSTOWN, MD — Sam Shoge will speak about property redevelopment at the 2026 Main Street Maryland Conference in Hagerstown. Shoge is a co-founder and partner at Rivers & Roads Consulting. His session will help Main Street leaders assess a property’s potential and understand what redevelopment would require.
What the property redevelopment session will cover
“Demystifying Development: How Main Street Leaders Can Bring Properties Back to Life” is scheduled for the October 6, 2026, 9:25–10:00 a.m. session at the Maryland Theatre. Shoge will explain the steps involved in evaluating a property, testing potential uses, and deciding whether to move ahead.
Shoge will use examples from past projects to explain how business plans, pro formas, and concept visuals help test redevelopment ideas. For example, a pro forma shows a project’s projected costs and revenues. He will also explain how to combine funding sources for a project. That combination is known as the capital stack. Rivers & Roads uses these tools in its strategy and planning work to evaluate properties and identify practical next steps.
“Property redevelopment can feel intimidating when you haven’t done it before,” said Shoge. “I want to break the process into steps people can understand and use. We’ll talk about what has worked, what has failed, and what we’ve learned. My goal is for attendees to leave thinking, ‘I can do this.’”
Shoge will also share lessons from a redevelopment project that failed. He will explain what went wrong and what leaders can look for when evaluating their own projects.
Rivers & Roads returns as a conference sponsor
Rivers & Roads is supporting the 2026 conference as a Bronze sponsor, following its sponsorship in 2025.
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Economic Development Association are organizing the October 6–7 conference in downtown Hagerstown. The event will bring together community leaders, economic development professionals, and small business advocates. They will share ways to strengthen Maryland’s downtowns. View the 2026 conference information.
About Rivers & Roads Consulting
Rivers & Roads Consulting is a strategy firm that helps nonprofit and public-sector leaders make decisions, involve the people affected, and put those decisions into practice. Learn more about Rivers & Roads Consulting.
Discuss a property redevelopment project
If your community is evaluating a property for redevelopment, tell us about the site, the uses you’re considering, and the decision you need to make. We can help assess potential uses, test financial feasibility, and identify practical next steps.
