HR&A Advisors serves as the retained executive team for the Rowen Foundation, orchestrating the creation of a 2,000-acre innovation community in the Atlanta Metro Region that will connect research, education, and industry across agriculture, medicine, and environmental science. As the operational leadership for this transformative project, HR&A directs all aspects of development including real estate strategy, foundation operations, tenant attraction, board governance, and public-private partnerships spanning Georgia's higher education institutions and government entities.
HR&A guided the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in developing and implementing a comprehensive innovation district strategy that bridges research capabilities with industry collaboration. We delivered a strategic roadmap with clear governance structures, partnership frameworks, and phased real estate development priorities that position MUSC to accelerate healthcare innovation while generating significant economic impact for the Charleston region.
HR&A conducted comprehensive market feasibility and economic impact analyses for the Chicago Bears Football Club as they have sought to build a new stadium in Chicagoland, with a specific focus on building a mixed-use district anchored by a new stadium on a 326-acre site in Arlington Heights. Our assessment provided critical data that informed stakeholder outreach to local and State government officials, supporting the team's predevelopment planning and regulatory approval processes.
HR&A evaluated land value capture mechanisms for the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), delivering a comprehensive implementation strategy and dynamic assessment tool to generate sustainable revenue for SANDAG's Regional Infrastructure Plan. Our work included financial modeling for two priority transit projects and produced an actionable roadmap that helps SANDAG and local partner agencies leverage value capture opportunities to fund critical infrastructure while supporting increased housing supply throughout the region.
HR&A conducted a comprehensive update of the New York City Tech Ecosystem Study for ABNY, Tech:NYC, and Google, delivering influential analysis that shaped policy discussions on tech workforce development and economic growth. Our research revealed significant sector expansion to 7% of the 4.27 million people working in New York City in 2021, as well as critical challenges in diversity and talent retention. Our findings and recommendations for addressing representation gaps were featured in The New York Times and The City.
HR&A has guided Vanderbilt University since 2023 in its efforts to catalyze Nashville's innovation economy. Through real estate strategy, market and feasibility analysis, developer partnership selection, and project management support, we are helping Vanderbilt to transform approximately 40 acres of underutilized campus land into a dynamic mixed-use neighborhood with cutting-edge spaces for innovation. In addition, we supported the creation of the Nashville Innovation Alliance to strengthen cross-sector partnerships, accelerate research commercialization, and grow talent pipelines to cement the region’s role as a national hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
HR&A conducted a comprehensive industry and workforce analysis of the Nashville area for Vanderbilt University to inform investments in innovation initiatives across Nashville. Our data analysis identified high-potential growth sectors and existing regional assets in terms of their ability to generate innovation and provide high-paying jobs. This work informed physical planning efforts for the future Anchor Park Innovation District and Vanderbilt’s contributions to Nashville Innovation Alliance.
HR&A advised Vanderbilt University in developing a plan to transform 40 acres of underutilized campus land into an innovation district that will catalyze Nashville's innovation ecosystem and support research needs. We supported the university to develop a vision and land use program for a dynamic mixed-use neighborhood that strengthens both academic excellence and regional economic development. HR&A managed the master planning process and is currently supporting Vanderbilt in selection of a development partner to move the project towards implementation.
HR&A led real estate and economic analysis as part of a multidisciplinary team developing a master plan for Dallas' Convention Center District, reimagining the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and surrounding area as an integrated mixed-use district with a new multi-modal transportation hub. Our feasibility analysis, equity assessment, and funding strategy helped the City of Dallas secure a projected $3.5 billion to advance this transformative project.
HR&A conducted economic impact analysis for the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation to support expansion of Klyde Warren Park, Dallas' acclaimed 5.2-acre deck park. Our analysis demonstrated $1.3 billion in existing park impact and projected $870 million in additional economic benefits from expansion, helping secure $30 million in public and private funding and catalyzing construction of enhanced park amenities.
HR&A worked with Forest Forward, a Dallas-based non-profit, to quantify the economic and community impacts of redeveloping the historic Forest Theater in South Dallas. Our analysis demonstrated how this landmark project would generate measurable economic benefits while expanding equitable access to cultural arts facilities and strengthening community health and safety outcomes across South Dallas.
HR&A conducted an independent study for Uber Technologies analyzing rideshare driver net earnings in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Portland and benchmarking those earnings against comparable occupations in each market. Our comprehensive analysis revealed that across all three cities, Uber driver net earnings ranged from $21.29 to $23.01 per hour after costs.
HR&A developed and continues to advance a comprehensive Strategic Broadband Action Plan for Clark County, Nevada, home to 70 percent of the state's residents. Our multi-phase approach has helped the County secure over $11 million in federal funding, establish a Broadband Program Office, and position Clark County as a national leader in equitable broadband deployment and digital inclusion.
HR&A conducted a comprehensive impact analysis for Airbnb, examining the effects of New York City's Local Law 18, which effectively banned most short-term rentals in September 2023. Through pre- and post-enforcement data analysis, HR&A demonstrated that the law significantly reduced short-term rental income for homeowners who relied on Airbnb rentals, reduced the net new economic activity that many Airbnb guests brought to the outer boroughs, and reduced the availability of accommodations for tourists – already in short supply.
After decades of stalled development caused by fractured ownership and aging infrastructure, HR&A helped SomeraRoad launch a transformative redevelopment project in Kansas City's West Bottoms. Our economic impact analysis and incentive strategy secured crucial city support for the project's rezoning and financing package.
On behalf of River City Company, HR&A led the development of a benefits case and implementation roadmap for a transformative Health & Wellness District along the 3rd & 4th Street Corridor in Chattanooga. HR&A aligned public, private, and institutional partners around a shared vision and positioned the District to drive innovation, job creation, and inclusive economic growth for Chattanooga and the region.
HR&A conducted a comprehensive assessment of MARTA's transit-oriented development and affordable housing programs, providing strategic recommendations to improve program effectiveness and attract more national developers. Through analysis of regional development trends, performance benchmarking against peer agencies, and evaluation of MARTA's property portfolio, we identified key improvements that positioned the agency to enhance development partnerships and outcomes while advancing community revitalization goals.
HR&A provided the Inter-American Development Bank with a comprehensive roadmap for expanding broadband access across Colombia's Aburra Valley. Our pre-feasibility study examined infrastructure, demand, and multi-dimensional feasibility considerations to determine whether a neutral network could deliver socio-economic benefits across this ten-city metropolitan area.
The Centre Pompidou is bringing Europe's largest modern art museum to Jersey City's Journal Square, creating a cultural destination poised to attract global visitors while serving local communities. HR&A developed the operating model, budget, and impact assessment for this transformative 2027 opening, guiding strategic decisions that will establish a thriving cultural district.
HR&A's equitable placemaking strategy is guiding how Indianapolis manages and activates its most prominent public spaces. Our work with the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) created programming, financial, and governance frameworks for Monument Circle, Georgia Street, Canal Walk, and Lugar Plaza that advance equity while supporting DMD's oversight of nonprofit management and South Downtown connectivity planning.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas engaged HR&A to launch an innovative digital equity program supporting device distribution, digital skills building, and public benefit adoption across the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Border Region, San Antonio, and Austin. Our RFP design, evaluation process, and organizational capacity building resulted in $21.7 million committed to 20 organizations over three years, directly impacting more than 100,000 residents.
Arlington Heights could host one of Chicagoland's greatest economic engines. HR&A advised the Chicago Bears on transforming a 326-acre site into a state-of-the-art stadium and mixed-use entertainment district, providing economic impact projections, market analysis, and financial feasibility that support the team's approval efforts and stakeholder engagement.
HR&A supported a large public interest foundation in developing a collaborative philanthropic strategy that enables coordinated investment in economic stability and mobility initiatives across US cities. Our strategic framework and presentation materials positioned the foundation to engage philanthropic partners in concentrated efforts to overcome systemic obstacles facing low-wage workers.
HR&A positioned Audible to demonstrate and amplify its economic impact in Newark. Working with the Global Center for Urban Development, we developed evaluation frameworks and conducted economic analysis quantifying Audible's contributions as a major employer in the region's cultural economy while creating strategic tools to guide future community investments.
HR&A collaborated with Fairfax County and the Economic Development Authority to develop a comprehensive Economic Recovery Framework that positioned the county for stronger, more inclusive economic growth following the pandemic. Our analysis and community engagement produced strategic recommendations that guided the County's investment in new programs and partnerships designed to strengthen local businesses and create opportunities for all residents.
HR&A's fiscal impact analysis strengthened Santa Monica's negotiating position with the 2028 Olympic organizing committee. Our evaluation of hosting versus non-hosting scenarios revealed visitor spending patterns, revenue generation, and service costs that led City Council to direct staff to secure more advantageous terms from LA28.
HR&A assisted the Horizon Project Foundation, a collaboration between the Medical University of South Carolina Foundation and the City of Charleston, in selecting a master developer for WestEdge, a 48-acre mixed-use district. Our evaluation process and transaction structuring led to the selection of Gateway Development, which has since delivered nearly one million square feet across three buildings including residential, retail, and innovation office space.
HR&A developed the conceptual programming strategy and business plan for The Lawn on D, transforming a 2.7-acre space into Boston's Innovation District's most popular destination. Working with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, we created a catalytic programming vision that has drawn over 30,000 visitors annually and established a new model for innovative urban placemaking that has gained national recognition.
HR&A conducted a comprehensive economic and fiscal impact study for the Long Island Index analyzing the proposed LIRR Main Line Third Track project, which faced significant local opposition despite its inclusion in the MTA's capital plan. Using complex economic modeling with project modeling from Parsons Brinckerhoff, we demonstrated that the $2 billion transit investment would generate 14,000 new jobs and $5.6 billion in annual economic output by 2035, leading to Governor Cuomo's approval and current project construction.
HR&A developed an organizational roadmap for the City of Fort Worth's Park and Recreation Department to advance implementation of its 2025 Master Plan and the Mayor's Good Natured Initiative. Our strategic recommendations helped position PARD for leadership transition and informed a successful budget increase of 3.7%, including salary improvements and expanded open space funding.
HR&A has guided Research Triangle Park's transformation from a traditional research campus into a vibrant mixed-use innovation district through over a decade of strategic planning and implementation support. Our economic analysis, real estate strategy, and development advisory work informed a 50-year master plan that attracted Hines as a development partner and positioned RTP to remain a regional economic engine for North Carolina.
HR&A advised The Trust for Public Land (TPL) on two strategic research initiatives that strengthened cities' abilities to leverage parks for economic development. The research illuminated the economic value of quality open spaces in five different U.S. cities and provided parks departments with implementable regulatory frameworks to secure development-driven funding, ultimately enhancing TPL's advocacy toolkit for municipal partners nationwide.
The 1901 Project will transform 55 acres around Chicago's United Center into one of the city's most dynamic new neighborhoods. HR&A collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to support the United Center Joint Venture—the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks—in refining the master plan for this mixed-use district, providing market analysis, strategic real estate guidance, and economic impact projections that positioned the development to deliver a transformative entertainment destination and unlock significant economic opportunity.
HR&A prepared the first comprehensive impact study for Empire AI, demonstrating how New York's state-of-the-art AI compute center is accelerating research and positioning the state as a national leader in responsible AI. Our economic analysis for Friends of Empire AI showed that the Alpha system has already supported more than 130 research projects, helping teams compress months of work into days through shared, world-class supercomputing.
HR&A is supporting the City and County of Honolulu to assess the City’s climate-related financial risks and define strategies for funding and budgeting vital adaptation measures. As climate hazards like coastal erosion, flooding, and hurricanes become more frequent and severe, this initiative marks a significant opportunity for Honolulu to safeguard its future by investing in resilient infrastructure and long-term solutions.
HR&A supported the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice and the Office of the Comptroller to develop Public Solar NYC, the city's first public solar program for low-to-moderate income residents. Our comprehensive feasibility analysis, program design, and grant application support helped secure $250 million in federal funding, establishing a transformative solar program that addresses equity barriers in NYC's clean energy transition.
HR&A served as strategic partner and development advisor to Rice Management Company for The Ion and broader 16-acre Ion District in Houston, overseeing real estate and programmatic development. This comprehensive advisory role has successfully transformed a former Sears building into a thriving innovation hub while laying the groundwork for a 3-5 million square foot mixed-use innovation district that fosters an inclusive tech ecosystem and creates equitable economic opportunities.
HR&A conducted comprehensive economic impact analysis for the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department, demonstrating that the city's 382 parks and 145 miles of trails generate a seven-to-one return on public investment. Our analysis of community benefits including job growth, health impacts, and resiliency, along with development of a visitor count methodology, provided the foundation for a successful $262 million bond proposal that gained overwhelming voter approval in 2017.
HR&A co-led a multidisciplinary team developing an equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) strategy for CapMetro's Project Connect, spanning 100+ station areas. Working with Austin Transit Partnership and the City of Austin, we created a comprehensive policy toolkit that minimizes displacement while maximizing economic opportunities for local residents and businesses.
HR&A worked with the City of San José from 2017 through 2021 to negotiate and structure Google's transformative Downtown West development adjacent to San José’s Diridon Station. Through our strategic advisory and direct participation in complex negotiations, we helped secure a groundbreaking $200 million community benefits package and shaped a Development Agreement that has established a new national model for equitable technology campus development, with community advocates calling it "perhaps the strongest community benefits package for a project of its kind anywhere in the country."
HR&A partnered with the Trinity Park Conservancy to develop an Equitable Development Toolkit that transforms a $150 million investment in Dallas's Harold Simmons Park into a catalyst for community opportunity. Through comprehensive analysis and stakeholder engagement, we created implementable strategies to ensure the 200-acre park connecting Downtown Dallas, West Dallas, and Oak Cliff strengthens neighborhoods while addressing systemic inequities.
HR&A worked with UT-Knoxville to assess the regional innovation ecosystem and develop a strategic framework for place-based investments. Our comprehensive research and stakeholder engagement provided the university with a clear roadmap for leveraging its assets to catalyze regional economic development and innovation.
HR&A conducted a comprehensive economic and fiscal impact analysis for Cornell Tech, quantifying the institution's contributions to New York City's economy through campus construction, operations, student spending, and startup activity. The analysis showed that Cornell Tech generated $768 million in total economic impact and supported 2,800 jobs in FY 2022-2023, with projections showing growth to $1.5 billion in economic impact and 7,000 jobs by 2030, establishing the institution as one of the city's most effective economic development investments.
HR&A guided the Moffitt Cancer Center in master planning and implementing SPEROS FL, Moffitt’s transformative 775-acre innovation campus outside of Tampa, Florida. This strategic advisory work supported Moffitt, Florida’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, in expanding its clinical, research, educational, and treatment activities, directly advancing its mission of preventing and curing cancer through a cohesive, purpose-built campus environment.
HR&A worked with the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation to analyze how population decline was affecting the Borough of Wilkinsburg and develop strategies to attract new development. Our fiscal analysis and recommendations informed critical consolidation discussions between the Borough and the City of Pittsburgh.
On behalf of Consolidated Edison Inc. (Con Edison), HR&A conducted a comprehensive impact assessment of the company's utility subsidiaries, Con Edison Company of New York (CECONY) and Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R), detailing the economic, fiscal, and social value the company provides to customers, businesses, local communities, and the states of New York and New Jersey.
HR&A developed the Kips Bay Science District Education and Workforce Vision Report for the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), that articulated the 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.
