My goal is to capitalize on those unfulfilled niches and develop strategies that provide maximum benefits to both the lender and the borrower. 

The area is not as developed as Oregon though as the big money Seattle folks pretty much stick to Puget sound real estate and forego ocean front or view.

They might offer better terms or be more flexible in such situations.Partnerships and Investors:Bring in Investors: Your friend might find investors interested in contributing capital in exchange for equity in the property.Form Partnerships: Consider forming a joint venture with a developer or another property owner who can provide the necessary capital for rebuilding.Similar Experiences and AdviceCase Studies: Researching similar cases can provide insight into how others have handled such situations.

In Europe we have a family business doing land development.

The question is would he do another especially with return that he can achieve on his smaller development efforts?  

with maybe the exception of a parcel that is clearly served by city Sewer Water and have power and Tele / internet to the lot lines.. and you have double checked the hook up or Systems development charges and if they have capacity.. keep in mind many parcels in subdivisions that were basically built as recreational subdivisions decades ago.. ( think GLEN GARY GLEN ROSS and for sure watch that Movie is exactly how the industry was in those days) the original infrastructure was allowed to be built to maybe serve 20% of the development that was legal and now you have moratoriums and assessments etc etc..

That makes sense that new development may not always be a sign that things are turning in the near future.  

I have other friends that love real estate development.

People use single data points of sea level change as a marker, while ignoring the multitude of geological and other human impacts (erosion, wetland destruction, coastal development etc) that have an impact on land level.

This preference makes sense because if these GMs are still in business, it likely means they have developed strategies to maximize profits within different economic cycles.