Look to vs Look at

[wensi.wu]

This is a modified excerpt from an OA posted in another forum.

The communities are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses.

I do not understand is the usage of "look to" vs "look at".
I tried google but with no success. I don't understand how "look to + (noun) is correct (except the idiom "look up to").

Also, is "look to + verb" used by any chance?
Thank you.

[jlucero]

"Look to" (or "looking to") is an expression used to express a hope or expectation. I look to do something = I hope to do something or I expect to do something.

"Look at" isn't an expression, but just a person looking + "at something".

In this case, people aren't just looking at their waterfronts and expecting the waterfronts to do something. They are hoping/expecting something to improve.