Detention Facilities: The Planning Challenges of Converting Warehouses

As communities across the country grapple with proposals to convert warehouse properties into immigration detention facilities, planners are increasingly being asked to navigate complex questions involving land use, infrastructure, zoning, environmental review, intergovernmental authority, and the broader effects these facilities may have on individuals, families, and surrounding communities. Presented at the 2026 New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference, this timely educational session explores the planning challenges associated with converting industrial warehouse properties into detention facilities. The panel examines how municipalities can evaluate these proposals, understand regulatory authority, assess infrastructure and public service impacts, and thoughtfully consider the effects these facilities may have on individuals, neighboring communities, and the built environment. *The views expressed by the presenters are their own and are intended for educational purposes. Publication of this session does not constitute an endorsement by APA New Jersey of any specific project, policy, or governmental action.