The Furman Center For Real Estate & Urban Policy

The NYU Furman Center advances research and debate on housing, neighborhoods, and urban policy.

Established in 1995, it is a joint center of the New York University School of Law and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Its mission is to:

• Provide objective academic and empirical research on the legal and public policy issues involving land use, real estate, housing, and urban affairs in the United States;

• Promote frank and productive discussions among elected and appointed officials, leaders of the real estate industry, leaders of nonprofit housing and community development organizations, scholars, faculty, and students about critical issues in land use, real estate, and urban policy;

• Present essential data and analysis about the state of New York City’s housing and neighborhoods to those involved in land use, real estate development, community economic development, housing, urban economics, and urban policy.

Ingrid Gould Ellen, Paulette Goddard Professor of Urban Policy and Planning is the Center's Faculty Director. Mark Willis, Resident Research Fellow, is the Executive Director. The Center's staff regularly collaborates with faculty and researchers from the School of Law, the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and many other research organizations at NYU and beyond.

The NYU Furman Center is named in honor of NYU Law alumnus Jay Furman, class of '71, who is a member of both the NYU School of Law Foundation Board of Trustees and the NYU Board of Trustees. Mr. Furman, an international real estate investor and developer, provided generous financial support to endow the Center, and is a constant source of support, ideas, and inspiration.

The NYU Furman center received the prestigious MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions in 2012. This distinguished award recognized the Center's excellence in providing objective, policy-relevant research and analyses to address the challenges facing New York City and other communities across the nation.

The NYU Furman Center launched the Moelis Institute for Affordable Housing Policy in 2010 to improve the effectiveness of affordable housing policies and programs. The Institute is named for NYU Law alumnus Ron Moelis, class of '82, an affordable housing developer who provided financial support.

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