HR&A Advisors

We’re always grateful for the opportunity to connect with and learn from urbanists across the globe.     This week, we were honored to host 26 experts from The University of Tokyo’s Smart City School at our New York office. This delegation, consisting of real estate practitioners, urban tech and media innovators, and mobility experts, joined us for a dynamic discussion about planning, equitable economic development, and urban tech in NYC.       A big thank you to everyone who made this event a success and to our guests for the engaging dialogue – we look forward to continuing this collaboration!      #SmartCities #UrbanInnovation #GlobalCollaboration #UrbanTech #UniversityofTokyo 

Tysons, VA, is proving its reputation as Fairfax County’s “economic engine.” HR&A Advisors recently conducted a net fiscal impact analysis for the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) which revealed that Tysons generated $342 million in tax revenue over the past year—$154 million more than the county invested in supporting infrastructure and services. Director Rachel Waldman shared during a presentation how a positive net fiscal impact illustrates a region’s ability to provide high-quality services. Our analysis also highlights a pivotal shift: Tysons is transforming from a car-oriented commercial hub to a dynamic, transit-oriented urban community. With over 16,000 existing residential units and nearly 28,000 more in the pipeline, Tysons is evolving into a 24/7 community, balancing commercial and residential growth to diversify its economy and strengthen its tax base.   HR&A Advisors is proud to support the ongoing transformation of Tysons through market analysis and strategic planning, helping to guide its future as a vibrant, livable urban center. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e9AEbtRH #UrbanPlanning #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityImpact #TransitOrientedDevelopment #TysonsVA

The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity is a groundbreaking zoning reform aimed at tackling New York City’s housing crisis, with the potential of creating over 80,000 units. As a trusted real estate advisor in NYC for nearly 50 years and a national leader in housing policy, HR&A Advisors sees this reform as a critical step toward unlocking development potential and enabling diverse housing opportunities for New Yorkers. While primarily focused on housing, the changes can also benefit nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and institutions in advancing aspects of their missions related to housing, or in realizing the value of their assets.   Navigating the complexities of this zoning reform requires expertise. HR&A stands ready to work with our public, nonprofit, and private clients, in collaboration with architects and legal experts, to assess how the adopted changes affect the value and potential of your assets. For more details, please see: https://lnkd.in/eZg55UCf #CityOfYes #HousingOpportunity #NYCHousingCrisis #UrbanPlanning

As cities continue facing challenges with revitalizing downtowns post-pandemic, collaboration between public and private sectors is crucial for successful recovery. In this piece for Urban Land magazine, HR&A's Managing Partner, Kate Collignon, shares insights on how to bring people back to the office and diversify downtown spaces. She emphasizes the need for strong leadership to cut through red tape, mobilize resources, and break down silos between public agencies.   Kate is joined by other experts, including Anzhelika Arbatskaia, Baker Barrios Architects, Andy DeMoss, Bradford Allen , and Sheba Ross Titus, HKS, Inc., who highlight the importance of community engagement, integrating nature, and addressing challenges like the work-from-home trend and outdated urban infrastructure.   Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ejHegXx3 #UrbanRevitalization #PublicPrivatePartnership #CityLeadership #WorkplaceStrategy #SustainableDevelopment

We’re excited to share that HR&A Advisors' Partners Bret Collazzi and Jose 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.    Read more: https://lnkd.in/e8shaUhB #EconomicDevelopment #Trailblazers #UrbanPlanning #GreenEconomy #CreativeEconomy

In 2019, HR&A led the planning process for the Central Islip Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) for our client, NYS Department of State. We’re excited to celebrate a key milestone in this effort: the completion of a $13.7 million sewer infrastructure project along Carleton Avenue, announced by Governor Kathy Hochul.  While infrastructure projects like this aren’t always flashy — they’re essential and can be truly transformational. This project, funded by a $2 million DRI grant and contributions from federal, state, and local partners, is no exception. By replacing outdated septic systems with modern sewer infrastructure, the project unlocks the potential for compact, mixed-use, transit-oriented development in downtown Central Islip. This includes opportunities for new housing, small businesses, cultural attractions, and public amenities — all critical steps toward a vibrant and walkable downtown.  Congratulations to Central Islip, the Town of Islip, and all the partners who made this milestone possible. This is an exciting step forward in realizing the community’s vision for a thriving downtown district.    Read an additional article: https://lnkd.in/eaVYTiym     #DowntownRevitalization #CommunityDevelopment #CentralIslip #NYForward #EconomicGrowth 

Check out this piece on 15-minute neighborhoods in the The Washington Post with a shout out to Principal Sulin Carling for lending her expertise.   The article cites a new study from Sony’s Computer Science Lab in Rome, which analyzed the walkability of neighborhoods across 200 metro areas in the US. Walkable neighborhoods like Clarendon (in Arlington, VA) take just 3.4 minutes to reach daily necessities. Is your neighborhood walkable?    #UrbanPlanning #WalkableCities #Sustainability #Housing #SmartGrowth #15MinuteNeighborhoods

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has taken an exciting step toward transforming the Odenton MARC Station area with the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify a development team to reimagine the west side of the station.  This RFQ builds on the Penn Line TOD Strategy, which HR&A Advisors, in partnership with Gensler, proudly supported. HR&A assessed development potential and financial feasibility to  enable MDOT to prioritize near-term opportunities like Odenton. We’re thrilled to see this milestone achieved, establishing a path to sustainable, connected communities and expanded economic opportunities along Maryland’s busiest commuter rail line. Investment in TOD across the MARC Penn Line could generate 1,360 new jobs, 117,000 annual MARC trips, and $270 million in state and local tax revenue over the next 30 years. Congratulations to MDOT and all partners involved in advancing this transformative vision! Learn more about the RFQ and the strategic plan driving this progress.  #TransitOrientedDevelopment #Housing #Sustainability #MDOT #RealEstateDevelopment https://lnkd.in/eRKrDKwj 

We were delighted to welcome students from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation to our New York office for a presentation hosted by our recruitment team. With support from HR&A’s Hilary Ho, Gertie Ma, Laura (Semeraro) Ryan, and Aroosa Ajani, students had the opportunity to engage with staff, learn about our projects, and tour our space. It was an inspiring day of connecting with the next generation of urban planners, real estate professionals, and policy thinkers. We’re excited to continue hosting more student visits and sharing our passion for city building! Photos by: Tajae Hinds #CampusRecruitment #Columbia #CareerDay #Recruitment #ConsultingJobs

We’re pleased to see such positive feedback on the affordable housing financing training led by HR&A Director Peter Brewton! It’s always rewarding to support initiatives that empower community development professionals with the tools to tackle critical housing challenges. Thank you to the North Texas Regional Housing Consortium and the Texas Association of Community Development Corporations for hosting this impactful session and to JPMorganChase for sponsoring it. We’re proud to be part of such meaningful work and look forward to continuing these efforts across Texas. #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment #HousingFinance