Belema Derefaka

AI is rewriting the rules of workspaces

April 25, 2025 / No Comments

This op-ed was originally published by Crains New York Business.

 

For too long, the office has been shaped by rigid zoning laws, inflexible lease structures and outdated underwriting standards. These frameworks were designed for a world where work meant sitting in an office from 9 to 5, five days a week. That world is gone. The rise of hybrid work, AI and automation is rewriting what it means to work.

 

We built workspaces to produce — that meant assembling cars in the Industrial Age or crunching numbers in the Information Age. The advent of AI is ushering in the Age of Imagination, where ideas are the new currency. Physical workspaces remain essential — not as rigid containers for productivity but as dynamic environments where ideas are born, tested, refined and brought to life.

 

As AI gets more powerful, it will drive us to have more and more digital “colleagues.” And as we spend more of the workday interacting in the virtual world, we will need the office to reinforce “Going to work” has always been more than a job; it’s a human experience. It’s where diverse perspectives collide, unexpected friendships form, and ideas take shape. And these moments don’t just happen at a desk — they happen on the way there, too. A packed subway ride, a quick stop at the bodega, a nod to the same stranger on the sidewalk each morning — these small, everyday interactions tether us to the pulse of a city. They remind us that work isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about being human.

 

As William Whyte argued in The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, the most vibrant environments are those that facilitate these informal encounters, encouraging human connection and creativity. And that human connection must be strengthened by the physical office, driving better products, smarter strategies, and stronger businesses. In the Age of Imagination, work won’t be confined to four walls. It won’t be about working more; it will be about working better, in spaces designed for the full spectrum of human potential. To do this we will need a built environment that keeps pace with the world around it. Office spaces that flex with human needs.

 

Construction systems that prioritize speed and reconfiguration over demolition. Policies that enable cities to adapt in real-time, shifting alongside economic and technological forces. Imagine a city where workspaces transform as quickly as ideas — where architecture and public policy isn’t a limitation, but a catalyst for progress.

 

Technology is outpacing our commercial office districts, but it doesn’t have to outmatch them. Consider Hudson Yards: When its master plan was released in 2003, the first iPhone was still four years away. That’s how fast the world changes. City builders — architects, policymakers, developers, bankers and builders — must embrace change.

 

We need zoning laws that allow for flexible office spaces that can adapt to shifting workforce needs. Lease structures should accommodate the ebb and flow of hybrid work, rather than locking companies into long-term commitments that no longer make sense. Underwriting standards must support adaptability, recognizing that commercial real estate success is no longer about filling floors with desks but about creating dynamic, multi-use environments.

 

But flexibility alone won’t cut it. We need to ask bigger questions. How will city grids handle AI’s skyrocketing energy demands? Will we have more retail and leisure activities if work requires less in-person, human labor? Can we redesign education and workforce training to focus on how we ideate, collaborate and leverage AI?

 

The question isn’t whether the office will survive AI — it’s how boldly we shape it to thrive in the Age of Imagination. If we get this right, AI won’t replace the office — it will elevate it, unlocking new opportunities for connection, creativity and prosperity. The future isn’t about diminishing physical offices; it’s about imagining environments that are more human—spaces that breathe, evolve and become essential in shaping the realities to come.

 

Kate Wittels is a partner at HR&A Advisors, an economic development and public policy consulting firm, and an adjunct professor at Columbia University.


Angelica Trevino Baccon is a principal at SHoP Architects.

New Report Charts Vision to End New York City’s Foster Care to Homelessness Pipeline

April 23, 2025 / No Comments

This press release was originally issued by the Center for Fair Futures.

 

(New York, NY) – Thrust into New York City’s impossibly tight housing market, youth in and exiting foster care face extreme housing precarity and, too often, homelessness. A new report released today, Housing Justice for Young People Aging out of Foster Care in New York City, lays out a five-year plan to provide 800 new homes for youth exiting foster care. Its findings present an opportunity for policymakers, service providers, and mission-driven investors to come together to prevent homelessness for a uniquely at-risk population. 

 

“Current and former foster youth, like I once was, struggle to find safe and stable housing in New York City,” said Anthony Turner, Director for The Center For Fair Futures’ Youth Advisory Board (YAB). “It’s time that stopped, and this report, led by young people impacted by the foster care system, shows us how to change the life trajectories of hundreds of young people aging out of foster care.” 

 

National research has found that 31 to 46 percent of transition-aged foster youth had experienced homelessness at least once before they turned 26. In New York City, of the 429 youth who aged out of foster care in 2023, 31 percent had to stay in a foster or group home because they simply had no other housing options. 

 

“The Center for Fair Futures is working toward a future where all young people are equipped and empowered to reach their highest potential,” said The Center’s Executive Director, Tracy Jenkins. “That future begins with the stability that high-quality housing provides.”

 

Buoyed by a successful advocacy effort in 2023, which secured over $30 million in annual funding for one-to-one coaching to assist New York City youth aged 14 to 26 in and exiting foster care, Fair Futures has partnered with three dedicated organizations to develop a comprehensive housing solution for all youth exiting care in New York City. 

 

Alongside The Children’s Village, HR&A Advisors and Good River Partners, The Center for Fair Futures and its Youth Advisory Board developed Housing Justice for Young People Aging out of Foster Care in New York City. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation provided funding to support the project.

 

A key part of the report’s findings was guided by the work of the Fair Futures Housing Design Fellowship, led by six youth leaders who struggled to find housing after leaving foster care. 

 

“Each year in New York, young people aging out of foster care face limited housing options and often homelessness. This report, created by young adults with lived experience, outlines a 5-year plan for affordable housing for all youth exiting foster care. The Children’s Village is proud to support this initiative and advance its goals through our proven model of beautiful and affordable homes in desirable neighborhoods,” said Jeremy Kohomban, President and CEO of The Children’s Village.

 

The housing design fellows set a housing justice standard for transition-aged foster youth, wherein youth have affordable housing that promotes health, well-being, and upward mobility by confronting the harms and disparities caused by a lack of affordable housing in desirable neighborhoods. 

 

With that definition of just housing in hand, HR&A Advisors, one of the nation’s preeminent real estate development and public policy consulting firms, modeled three opportunities to blend traditional, market-driven private investment with mission-motivated capital, generating returns of 4% – 6% for mission-aligned funders. Their research finds that through a mixture of private capital and policy change, there is a viable pathway to set aside – over five years – 800 homes for youth exiting the system, effectively ending the City’s foster care to homelessness and housing insecurity pipeline. 

 

The report outlines ten steps the City of New York, the State, housing developers and operators, and mission-driven investors should take in 2025 to:

    • Adopt crucial policy changes to take full advantage of every available tool and federal dollar to address the unmet housing needs of young people aging out of care.
    • Leverage existing housing stock in New York City to meet the needs and desires of young people aging out of foster care, prioritizing apartments that adhere to the quality standards developed by the Fair Futures Housing Design Fellows.
    • Design a Fair Futures Housing Fund, a new dedicated source of capital that will generate returns for investors while accelerating the development of housing that meets the quality standards developed by the Housing Design Fellows. 

     

    These, and the other recommendations embedded in Housing Justice for Young People Aging out of Foster Care in New York City, provide a clear roadmap for the City to dramatically curtail homelessness and housing insecurity among youth impacted by foster care.

     

    “This is a solvable problem. We are grateful to the Housing Design Fellows, who have collectively lived in dozens of difficult situations and know firsthand that a safe, quality home can be life-changing. With policy changes and mission-driven private capital, there is a viable pathway to making sure that every young person aging out of care can access the home they need and deserve,” said Sarah Solon, Senior Principal and leader of HR&A Advisors’ nationwide work to end homelessness

     

    “The number of young adults who end up homeless after aging out of the foster care system should be a resounding zero,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “With creative solutions and policy changes that set aside homes for young people exiting the shelter system, we can meet the needs of some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. I commend the people who used their experience struggling to find housing when transitioning out of foster care to make sure that the next generation aging out will not have to face those same challenges.”

     

    “As someone who worked many years in social services, I understand that safe, quality housing is the foundation for a healthy and productive life,” said Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos from District 72.  “I’ve seen firsthand the struggles our young people face especially those aging out of foster care as they try to secure stable housing while navigating so many other challenges. That’s why I’m committed to supporting efforts that expand affordable housing options and break the cycle of housing insecurity. We must invest in their futures.” 

     

    “Foster kids face numerous obstacles, however, homelessness shouldn’t be one of them,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. “No child should feel alone. Yet, far too many of our kids are forced to stay in untenable or undesirable living situations because of a lack of affordable housing. Housing Justice for Young People’s report is a blueprint on how to build a more inclusive future for New York’s youngest residents. I look forward to working together to create bold, much-needed change to ensure every child reaches their full potential.”

     

    “New York City is facing an existential housing crisis and our youth is at the brunt of this issue,” said Council Member Rita Joseph, Chair of the Committee on Education. “Now more than ever holistic approaches are needed to better support and guide our youngest and most vulnerable New Yorkers to gain access to housing. This report provides a bold vision to address the housing issue in New York City that is affecting our youth and signals a strong message of restoring dignity and equity. I remain committed to championing affordable, equitable and accessible housing for foster youth across our city.”

     

    About the Partners

     

    The Center for Fair Futures

    The Center for Fair Futures is a youth-led advocacy movement and coalition of 100+ organizations and foundations advocating for all young people in New York City’s foster care system to have access to the long-term, comprehensive supports they need to achieve their potential.

     

    The Center for Fair Futures Youth Advisory Board (YAB)

    The YAB is composed of 17 young adults impacted by the child welfare system in New York City. The YAB is dedicated to advocating for New York City’s foster youth, so they have the supports they need to thrive. In 2023, the Fair Futures Youth Advisory Board was successful in securing and baselining a $30.7 million annual investment from the City of New York, making NYC the first in the nation to support young people in foster care through age 26 with public funding. Youth, beginning at age 14, have access to a coaching program that provides 1:1 coaching and tutoring to help young people achieve their academic, career development, and independent living/life goals from 9th grade through age 26.

     

    The Children’s Village 

    The Children’s Village (CV) is committed to the wellbeing of children, teens, and families by advocating for, strengthening, and reuniting families; building community partnerships; creating innovative programs; and connecting people to resources that focus on basic needs and human rights.

     

    With nearly 175-year history of caring for children and families, CV’s mission and impact are carried out through several focused strategies: prevention of child and family separation; temporary care and treatment for youth who cannot remain with family; support for youth development and transition; and our wide array of community investments that includes crisis response and model housing development.

     

    The Children’s Village has pioneered several projects that bring to life the quality standards developed by our Housing Design Fellows. In the summer of 2024, the nonprofit opened the doors of the Eliza, a 14-story, deeply affordable housing development in the desirable, racially integrated community of Inwood, Manhattan, available to all, including young people aging out of foster care. 

     

    HR&A Advisors  

    HR&A Advisors is a mission-driven, employee-owned firm that advises public, private, non-profit, and philanthropic clients to help them create vital places, build more equitable and resilient communities, and improve people’s lives. Across the country, HR&A works with partners inside and outside of local government to shape, scale, and sustain solutions to homelessness. HR&A’s work to end homelessness is a partnership between our Affordable Housing and Inclusive Cities practices. HR&A’s Affordable Housing Practice creates funds, plans, policies, programs, and strategies that address local needs and priorities, align community goals with market conditions, and advise clients to build and preserve affordable housing. HR&A’s Inclusive Cities practice translates the ideas of communities and their advocates into meaningful systems change within local government. Working with visionary clients from grassroots activists to elected city and county leaders, we leverage our deep understanding of government, knowledge of local and private economic forces, and analytical rigor to promote social and economic justice.

     

    Good River Partners 

    Good River Partners is a public benefit firm focused on ending the foster care to homelessness pipeline nationally. To accomplish this mission, Good River is working to finance and scale the development and acquisition of high-quality housing for youth in and exiting foster care. 

     

New Study Offers Data-Driven Approach for Office-to-Housing Conversions

April 9, 2025 / No Comments

Press release issued by Gensler, Brookings Metro, and HR&A Advisors.

 

As American cities grapple with persistently high office vacancies and an escalating housing crisis, a new report provides critical insights into the potential for converting office buildings into residential spaces. “Understanding Office-to-Residential Conversion: Lessons from Six U.S. Case Studies” examines conversion activity in Houston, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Stamford, and Winston-Salem, offering a roadmap for policymakers and developers navigating this complex process.

 

This research—produced by Brookings Metro, Gensler, HRA Advisors, and Cara Eckholm Studio, with support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) —provides a data-driven framework to help cities optimize office-to-residential (O2R) policy and practice.

 

The report finds that office-to-residential conversions present a strategic opportunity to tackle three pressing urban issues:

    • Unmet housing demand: Cities like Los Angeles face a critical shortage of housing, particularly for lower-income households.
    • Office market distress: Many downtowns, such as Pittsburgh’s, are struggling to repurpose aging office stock as tenant needs evolve, putting pressure on local tax revenues.
    • Downtown vibrancy: Many cities are seeing weekly visits at less than 50% of pre-pandemic levels, resulting in small businesses struggling and downtowns feeling empty.

     

    While some cities have seen organic conversion activity in high-demand housing markets, the report emphasizes that in many cases, local policy and financial incentives are essential to making projects viable.

     


    “Our research on downtown areas across the country shows that the most successful urban cores serve multiple purposes and attract diverse groups of people throughout the day and week,” said Jon Meyers, HR&A Partner. “Converting empty office space for new uses presents a strong opportunity to help downtowns thrive as economic engines for their cities and regions. Our study highlights various strategies that are already working in different cities, and we invite local leaders to use these insights to help identify their priorities, recognize opportunities in their communities, and implement the right tools to achieve their goals.”

     

    “Too often, policy discussions around office-to-residential conversions focus on politics rather than the real data needed to make informed decisions,” said Steven Paynter, Principal at Gensler. “This study is different. We conducted in-depth research on both the physical realities of downtown buildings and the financial feasibility of conversions. Our approach is grounded in facts—real data, real buildings, and real economic conditions—so that cities can craft policies that actually work in the real world.”

     

    Through a combination of market analysis, stakeholder interviews, and architectural feasibility assessments, the study identifies four key levers that cities can use to facilitate office-to-residential conversions:

      • Regulatory flexibility: Zoning and building code reforms, such as allowing conversions by-right, help to accelerate projects.
      • Financial incentives: Tools like tax abatements, historic preservation credits, and low-cost financing help bridge the feasibility gap.
      • Demand-driven strategies: Investments in public space, transit, and amenities can boost residential appeal in former office corridors.
      • Targeted subsidies: Inclusionary zoning or direct subsidies can ensure conversions also advance affordability and equity goals.

       

      “Every city is distinct, but by drawing insights from a diverse set of cities across the country, we’ve found common lessons and strategies,” said Kate Collignon, HR&A Partner. “Office-to-residential conversions can be a powerful tool to support broader downtown activation strategies, and the feasibility of these conversions correlates strongly with the demand for residences downtown. The more desirable we make downtown as a place where people want to live and build community, the greater the opportunity for repurposing the buildings that frame that place.”

       

      The study underscores that there is no one-size-fits-all solution—effective strategies must be tailored to each city’s fiscal structure, real estate market, and regulatory environment. Looking ahead, further research will explore the long-term scalability of O2R conversions and their potential to enhance urban resilience and economic recovery.

       

      “Office to residential conversions feel like a way to solve two problems with one solution – but what we learned from these case studies is that across cities there are differing motivations, goals, and thus policy levers that it makes sense to pull on,” said Tracy Hadden Loh, Fellow at Brookings Metro.

       

      About the Study

        This report is based on qualitative and quantitative research conducted between June and October 2024. The research team conducted interviews with public- and private-sector leaders, analyzed commercial real estate trends using CoStar data, and evaluated the architectural feasibility of conversions using Gensler’s O2R conversion algorithm.

       

      About the Research Partners

      About Gensler:
      At Gensler, the value of our work stems from its positive impact on the human experience. We are a dynamic and collaborative design firm uniting creativity, research, and innovation to solve complex problems for our clients. Our work challenges conventional ideas about architecture and the built environment. We aren’t just designing buildings — we are reimagining cities and places that make a difference in people’s lives. Founded in 1965, Gensler has built a team of 6,000 professionals who partner with clients in over 100 countries each year. Everything we do is guided by our mission: to create a better world through the power of design.
      About Brookings Metro:
      Brookings Metro is the nation’s leading source of ideas and action to create more prosperous, just, and resilient communities. In pursuit of our mission to collaborate with local leaders to transform original insights into policy and practical solutions that scale nationally, we produce trusted, actionable research; apply it through regional engagements and national networks; and connect with policymakers at all levels to inform impact at scale. Using our world-class communications platform, we share stories of change and progress that can inform and inspire impact at scale.
      About HR&A Advisors:
      HR&A Advisors, Inc. (HR&A) is an employee-owned company advising visionary clients on how to create vital places, build equitable and resilient communities, and improve people’s lives.

       

      This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under a cooperative agreement.
      Photo: Brookings Institute 

HR&A is excited to announce the launch of HousingWeaver!

March 7, 2025 / No Comments

HR&A is excited to announce the launch of HousingWeaver — a data analytics platform built by housing experts for housing professionals, city leaders, planners, economic development researchers, advocates, and community members to better understand and respond to their housing challenges. After nearly 50 years of working with clients to support their housing goals, HR&A packed all that expertise into HousingWeaver to help you understand and respond to your housing challenges.

What can HousingWeaver do for you?

    • Generate real-time always up-to-date housing needs assessments
    • Streamline tax credit scoring and project management
    • Model and evaluate new housing policies to understand their impact on affordability

     

    HousingWeaver puts expert-level housing analytics at your fingertips. Learn more here.

Kips Bay Science District’s Vision for Workforce and Innovation

February 27, 2025 / No Comments

As New York City explores new ways to cultivate a skilled workforce for its health and life sciences ecosystems, HR&A Advisors, on behalf of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), proudly developed the Kips Bay Science District Education and Workforce Vision Report. The report articulates a vision of the Kips Bay District as the center of New York City’s health and life sciences ecosystems. Leveraging NYCEDC’s first-of-its-kind life sciences innovation, career, and education hub, the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC), would develop the next generation of talent to support this ecosystem and anchor this District.

 

Our team engaged the Kips Bay Taskforce to identify high-opportunity career pathways and develop recommendations that ensure equitable access for New Yorkers to healthcare, life sciences, and public health education, training, and job opportunities. The Taskforce, formed to guide the engagement and develop a clear vision for the District ahead of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process, included nearly 50 partners from a wide range of educational, workforce, and industry backgrounds, such as NYU Langone Health, Deerfield Management, The City University of New York, NYC Health + Hospitals, and NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

 

In a significant win for New York City’s economy, the New York City Council has approved the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay as part of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). SPARC Kips Bay will transform Hunter College’s Brookdale campus into a state-of-the-art center for life sciences, healthcare, and public health. The project will bring nearly two million square feet of modern academic, healthcare, and life sciences space, supporting industry growth and cultivating NYC’s talent pipeline.

 

Explore:

Kips Bay science park approved

NYCEDC Kips-Bay Science District Education Workforce Vision

Press:

SPARC Kips Bay Announcement

Addressing Maine’s Housing Shortage: A Roadmap for the Future

January 31, 2025 / No Comments

“The scale of Maine’s housing challenge can seem overwhelming, but this report provides a clear, actionable strategy to accelerate housing production and meet the state’s goals. By addressing barriers to development and supporting workforce growth, Maine can create the homes it needs for the future.”

 

HR&A Advisors is proud to support the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, MaineHousing, and the Department of Economic and Community Development in developing solutions to address Maine’s housing shortage. This week, our clients released A Roadmap for the Future of Housing Production in Maine, a strategy developed and authored by HR&A that outlines key actions that State of Maine can take, in partnership with municipalities and the private sector, to increase housing production and strengthen Maine’s construction workforce.

 

HR&A Partner Phillip Kash and Senior Analyst Eva Phillips presented our recommendations to the Maine State Legislature’s Committee on Housing and Economic Development, drawing coverage from Press Herald, Channel 6/WCSH, and Bangor Daily News. The report’s findings will help shape policy decisions and drive solutions for Maine’s housing and economic future.

 

This report builds on the findings of HR&A’s State of Maine Housing Production Needs Study, which identified that the state needs as many as 84,000 additional homes by 2030 to meet the needs of current and future residents, support Maine’s growing economy and improve affordability. HR&A presented a series of strategies designed to take a comprehensive approach to growing housing production in the state, informed by interviews with local housing, planning and development experts and national best practice examples tailored to Maine’s specific challenges and opportunities. Recommendations include strategies to streamline state and local development approvals processes, incentivize municipalities to contribute towards housing production goals, and strengthen the private sector’s ability to deliver more homes through growing the construction workforce.

 

We also developed the State of Maine Housing Data Portal to support planning and actions to address housing production needs across the state. The online portal, available at mainestatehousingdata.org, builds upon the State of Maine Housing Needs Production Study.

 

Related press

How can Maine fix its housing crisis? A new report has dozens of ideas Portland Press Herald
Maine lawmakers get sobering recommendations to create new housing before 2030, News Center Maine

New report outlines how Maine can increase housing production Bangor Daily News

Report outlines how Maine can increase housing production FOX23

 

New Report Outlines Roadmap For Reimagining How Boston’s Designated Port Areas Can Better Serve The Region’s Evolving Community, Economic, And Climate Needs

January 30, 2025 / No Comments

This press release was originally issued by Boston Waterfront Partners.

 

January 29, 2025—Today, the Boston Waterfront Partners—community-based organizations dedicated to the sustainable development and equitable use of Boston’s waterfront areas—released a new report analyzing the challenges facing Boston’s waterfront and working port communities, as a result of Boston’s outdated Inner Harbor Designated Port Area (DPA) regulations. The report offers a roadmap for revisiting how DPAs can better serve the people and industries they were originally built to protect, and support the region’s evolving economic, climate resilience, and public health priorities.

 

Massachusetts DPAs, first established by the Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) in 1978, have been essential to protecting and growing the Commonwealth’s vital water-dependent industries for decades. Boston’s Inner Harbor DPAs have a critical role to play in maintaining Boston’s working port as an economic driver, protecting essential waterfront infrastructure, providing local job opportunities, facilitating water transit, and promoting climate resilient communities. Yet, 50 years after they were originally established, Massachusetts DPAs have not undergone a comprehensive review or any type of reform to ensure they are responsive to present day dynamics.

 

The report identifies several challenges facing Boston’s Inner Harbor DPAs, including:

    • The regulatory frameworks governing Boston’s Inner Harbor DPAs are outdated, failing to account for the latest economic, climate, and public health concerns and realities, and leaving much of their transformative potential for communities untapped.
    • Increasing and competing cross-sector pressures and priorities that are vying for use of DPAs, and utilizing regulatory loopholes to undermine them, have weakened their integrity, and strained their effectiveness.
    • A lack of public-private collaboration to address the challenges posed by DPAs has hindered long-term planning and investment.

     

    “Designated Port Areas hold massive potential to not only safeguard Boston’s existing maritime industry, but also promote an emerging and cutting-edge blue economy, drive waterfront innovation, advance environmental justice initiatives, create workforce development opportunities, meaningfully engage local communities, and much more,” said Jill Valdes Horwood, Director of the Barr Foundation’s Waterfront Initiative. “This report underscores why it is imperative that we reach this potential and reimagine the role that Designated Port Areas play, today and for future generations, in building and maintaining an economically vibrant and resilient working port, city, and region.” To address these challenges, the report recommends strategies to streamline DPA regulations, improve stakeholder engagement about decisions made in DPAs, and lay the groundwork for crucial investments in economic development and resilience. Specifically, the report calls for

     

    Planning & Governance:

    • Direct economic development planning and investment in DPAs by expanding and empowering the Seaport Economic Council to steward better-resourced, climate-resilient seaport development.
    • Invest in the first maritime economic development plan for the harbor in nearly three decades and maintain shared, detailed data on DPA economic and land use conditions thereafter.
    • Build workforce development pipelines that connect local talent, including talent in economically vulnerable communities, to high-road jobs in growing maritime industries.

     

    Land Use & Regulatory Planning:

    • Encourage clean fuel and electrification infrastructure in DPAs to help maritime industrial businesses and their supply chains transition to clean and renewable power sources.
    • Create transitional zones to give business owners more flexibility on their properties and more effectively blend water-dependent industrial uses with other uses on the margins of DPAs.
    • Establish clear and fairly enforced standards for property maintenance in DPAs, and facilitate collective responsibility for DPA property maintenance among property owners.

     

     

    Climate Adaptation & Sustainability:

    • Establish a DPA decarbonization finance assistance program to help maritime industrial businesses navigate existing financing opportunities to transition to cleaner fuels and decarbonize their operations.
    • Establish a DPA resiliency grant program to help maritime industrial businesses assess their vulnerability to climate hazards and begin to fortify their assets.
    • Channel reauthorized MassWorks program funds, supplemented with federal money, to advance large-scale environmental remediation and long-needed climate adaptation investment in working ports. Expanding and empowering the Seaport Economic Council to steward better-resourced, climate-resilient seaport development, investing in a maritime economic plan for the harbor, and building a workforce development pipeline to connect local talent to careers in the maritime industry.

     

     

    The report, which was commissioned by the Boston Waterfront Partners and researched and written by HR&A Advisors with funding from the Barr Foundation, was developed after careful data analysis of existing regional conditions and case studies investigating innovative regulatory approaches in other port cities, as well as stakeholder interviews with community members, waterfront and environmental justice advocacy organizations, and members of Boston’s maritime and development industry.

     

    “We are grateful to the Barr Foundation for funding this comprehensive report on behalf of the Boston Waterfront Partners. Boston Harbor is the region’s largest port, supporting critical jobs and economic activity,” said Katherine Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now. “We are excited to use the report’s recommendations to help leverage public and private funds to support the working waterfront and create a climate-resilient coastline.”

     

    “Massachusetts’ waterfronts have always played a critical role in the state’s economy, supporting our fishing, shipping, and energy industries, among others. But those industrial uses haven’t always benefitted the communities that host them,” said Julia Carlton MacKay, Director of Community Resilience for Conservation Law Foundation. “By reimagining our working waterfronts, we can drive innovation, create sustainable jobs, and ensure that the communities hosting these industries have a meaningful stake in their success. With the right balance, working ports can support both economic growth and environmental stewardship for years to come.”

     

    “Kudos to Boston Waterfront Partners and their collaborators for giving us this fresh look at the importance of maintaining Boston’s waterfront vitality in the face of environmental threats and competing demands,” said Dennis Sullivan, Board Clerk and Chair of the Resiliency Committee of the Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway. “This must-read DPA report offers a model for public-private partnerships which the city needs to manage competing interests while protecting the city’s long-term interests in its core marine industry infrastructure.”

     

    “For 30 years GreenRoots has been advocating for a waterfront that is not only accessible to the community but also contributes to its well being. This report is critical because it highlights the important and evolving role of the Designated Port Area to our coastal communities. It isimportant to recognize that as we adapt our coastal zoning policies to an evolving climate and a rapidly changing real estate landscape that we maintain equity as a guiding priority,” said John Walkey, Director of Climate Justice & Waterfront Initiatives for GreenRoots.

     

    “It’s appropriate that the Bay State should have state-of-the-art port facilities that can support a thriving maritime industry, but those resources need to be connected to and serve the environmental justice communities in which they have been historically located, through jobs, training and public access to the waterfront,” said Chris Mancini, Executive Director of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. “If we can assess the needs and potential in Designated Port Areas, we can drive both economic growth and public benefits for people regardless of race, language
    or ability.”

     

    “This report identifies opportunities to build inclusive workforce development pipelines for traditional maritime and new blue economy jobs,” said Willie Bodrick, II, President & CEO of The American City Coalition. “Boston is overdue for a public dialogue about DPAs. To fully realize the economic potential of DPAs, we must work together to foster a connected economy and develop intentional strategies that engage residents of Roxbury and other communities of color in the waterfront workforce and blue innovation economy.”

     

    About Boston Waterfront Partners: The Boston Waterfront Partners—a coalition of community-based organizations including Boston Harbor Now, Boston Harbor Women of Color Coalition, Charles River Conservancy, Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront, Conservation Law Foundation, Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway, GreenRoots, Harborfront Neighborhood Association, Mystic River Watershed Association, New England Aquarium, Piers Park Sailing Center, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, The American City Coalition, and Trustees of Reservations—is dedicated to the sustainable development and equitable use of Boston’s waterfront areas. More information about the Partners can be found here. 

Principal Ada Peng has joined the board of directors at Linc Housing

January 27, 2025 / No Comments

 

We’re excited to share that Principal, Ada Peng, has joined the board of directors at Linc Housing, an organization dedicated to creating and preserving affordable, sustainable, and supportive housing throughout California.

 

Ada’s expertise in real estate advisory and housing policies including housing production and preservation will further strengthen Linc’s mission to address California’s housing crisis.

City of Yes for Housing Opportunity is adopted. How does it impact development feasibility?

December 19, 2024 / No Comments

Overview | The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity is a sweeping zoning reform aimed at tackling New York City’s housing crisis. Approved by the City Council on December 5, 2024, the initiative aims to enable more housing in every neighborhood by increasing allowances, flexibility, and incentives for diverse and affordable housing types, while reducing regulatory hurdles for development and conversions. The City estimates that over 80,000 units will be created through these changes.  

 

Impact At-a-Glance | The zoning reform is complex, and we look forward to working with public, nonprofit, and private clients, in collaboration with planners, architects, and legal experts, to understand how the adopted zoning changes affect the value and potential of your assets. This document provides a summary of key changes and a high-level evaluation of their impact on development potential and feasibility. 

 

Explore the full City of Yes Impacts at a Glance here.

Congratulations to Partners Bret Collazzi and José Serrano-McClain for being recognized among City & State’s inaugural Trailblazers in Economic Development.

December 17, 2024 / No Comments

We’re excited to share that HR&A Advisors’ Managing Partner Bret Collazzi and Partner José Serrano-McClain have been recognized among City & State’s inaugural Trailblazers in Economic Development, highlighting 100 New Yorkers who are shaping the future of the state’s economy. 

 

Bret’s transformative work has propelled key initiatives like OneNYC 2050, the future of Rikers Island, and efforts to grow New York’s semiconductor industry, including a housing growth strategy for Central New York. José has championed climate-focused economic development, authored a policy playbook for New York’s creative economy, and supported clean energy integration in New York, California, and Pittsburgh. 

 

Congratulations to Bret and José for this well-deserved recognition! Your contributions are creating meaningful, lasting impact across New York and beyond.