New York

The year is 1976. The economy has fallen flat for most Americans. An oil crisis abroad has strained budgets at home. Technology is rapidly changing work, and pollution is a growing threat. Racial and economic inequality is underlying all of it.

This op-ed was originally published by Crain’s New York Business and authored by Partner Kate Wittels and Principal Sulin Carling. Elected officials and business leaders describe New York City as the most resilient city in the world, bouncing back stronger from every shock and adapting to a new normal. Today, the shock is AI. AI promises unprecedented productivity gains, but […]

We’re looking forward to joining clients, collaborators, thought leaders, and changemakers at the Urban Land Institute’s 2026 Spring Meeting in Nashville. As the industry comes together to exchange ideas and shape the future of cities, our team will share insights from decades of work at the intersection of real estate, economic development, and resilience.   Speaking Engagements: […]

In just her first 100 days in office, Mayor Dr. Dorcey L. Applyrs has set a powerful example of what it looks like to shape governing priorities in partnership with the community. Earlier this month, the City of Albany released the Activate Albany Action Plan. The plan is a 30-step, community-driven policy agenda directly shaped by input […]

Cities don’t have the luxury of treating climate change as a future problem. The decisions being made right now — about buildings, energy systems, coastlines, and infrastructure — will shape whether cities can keep their promises to residents on both resilience and affordability. This Earth Day, we’re reflecting on the work HR&A teams have been […]

New York City’s launch of its public grocery store initiative is an exciting step towards making public options a reality in more places. By late 2027, the City plans to open its first publicly owned grocery store and aims to expand the model to every borough by the end of the Mayor’s term.   HR&A Advisors is […]

Cities are always in motion. For the past 50 years, HR&A has been part of that motion, working as problem solvers — helping cities unlock investment, advance opportunity, and invigorate places of every size. Cities today face a new set of defining challenges. How do we restore trust in government? Make cities affordable for everyone? […]

What does it take to transform fragmented municipal land use data into a unified, statewide planning framework? On behalf of the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning (RIDSP), HR&A Advisors partnered with Go Consulting Services to advance the Land Use 2050 Data Services project — a critical step in preparing Rhode Island for growth, conservation, […]

HR&A is excited to welcome Drex Owusu to our Board of Directors. Drex is a dynamic leader at the intersection of education, economic development, and civic engagement. His experience aligns with HR&A’s continued growth in Texas and our efforts to deepen the firm’s leadership and impact. Drex’s career reflects a consistent commitment to catalyzing economic […]

Land values around many campuses are climbing faster than HBCUs can capitalize on them. My first visit to a Historically Black College or University was to Howard University during its famous homecoming celebrations. I was visiting as a student from UC Berkeley, newly initiated into my fraternity, and I was immediately embraced by my brothers […]

HR&A is proud to support the work of the Fair Futures Housing Design Fellows, who have collectively lived in dozens of difficult housing situations while in foster care and in the years after, and whom we helped create a roadmap to ending the foster care to homelessness pipeline in NYC last year. In a recent […]

Parks, walkability, and resilience aren’t just design features — they’re competitive advantages. In a two-part conversation hosted by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), HR&A’s Jill Schmidt Bengochea and Gail Hankin joined national leaders, Torey Carter-Conneen (American Society of Landscape Architects), Jacob Bennett (LandDesign), and Bob Gibbs (Gibbs Planning Group), to discuss how nature-based […]