Jenny Lin

Associate, Economic & Planning Systems

Development Manager, City Ventures

Before joining the MRED+D program, I worked as a land-use economics consultant at Economic & Planning Systems (EPS) to both public- and private-sector clients. Our main focus was addressing real estate issues throughout all phases of land use. I was able to work on a variety of projects, including fiscal & economic impact analyses, establishment of development impact fees, market studies, and HBU/feasibility analyses.

After pursuing an Urban Studies undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, I continued to seek opportunities which could immerse me in the complex field of real estate development. I began to see the built environment as a reflection of the various dynamics of market, political, and community systems at work. To me, real estate isn’t simply a financial investment, but also the act of creating, sustaining, and revitalizing socially beneficial communities. Through this perspective, I committed myself to further understanding the balance between private- and public-sector participants in the real estate industry. More importantly, I believe that the MRED+D program will further enable me to contribute towards more socially and economically sustainable real estate ventures.

I think the most important aspect of the MRED+D program to me is that it is seeking to change the discourse of real estate development by bridging the community and the developer. It attempts to enable someone with my background to become part of a new generation of specialists trained to solve today’s real estate development complexities by broadening our perspectives. We are asked to understand the consequences of each land use decision and to challenge ourselves to find new solutions through perspectives of sustainability and design.