Talking Transition

HR&A led the design and implementation of an innovative new model for public engagement following the 2013 New York City Mayoral Election and other elections around the country. As cities prepare to greet a new mayor, HR&A has developed an approach for broad public engagement that brings citizens from all corners of a city to participate in public conversations about the policy issues, ideas and questions that affect their communities. Read more →
 

New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative

HR&A has worked with downtown communities across New York State to develop revitalization strategies and prioritize public investments that create jobs, improve public spaces, and serve surrounding communities. Serving as a strategic advisor to New York State officials and local planning committees, we have guided more than $100 million of public and private investment in projects including an AI incubator and training academy on Staten Island, a community-run coworking space for local professionals and entrepreneurs in Jamaica, Queens, and a brewery and event space in Jamestown, NY. In total, funded projects will create more than 500 direct jobs and set the stage for further downtown growth and community development. Read more →
 

NYC Food Policy Plan

Working with the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, (MOFP), HR&A supported the development of New York City’s first long-term food policy plan, Food Forward NYC. More than 1 in 5 New Yorkers faced food insecurity during the pandemic, and many of New York’s food businesses were devastated, compounding vulnerabilities that preceded the pandemic. The 10-year food plan lays out commitments and initiatives to expand food access, support jobs, improve supply chain resiliency, prioritize sustainability, and strengthen community engagement around food. HR&A coordinated engagement of more than 300 policy and community stakeholders to shape the plan. Read more from the full report →
 

New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program

HR&A led an interdisciplinary team to develop comprehensive, strategic resilience plans for at-risk communities that were severely impacted by Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee. The HR&A-led team developed comprehensive community plans for investing over $128M of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery funding towards strengthening the physical, economic, and social resiliency across the city, including in Lower Manhattan, Red Hook, Howard Beach, Broad Channel, Canarsie, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, Marine Park, and several communities along the East Bronx Waterfront. Read more →