Transforming Communities: The Power of Impact-Driven Real Estate
Redefining Neighborhood Revitalization: How Impact-Driven Real Estate Transforms Community Ecosystems
Robin Zeigler, Founder and CEO of MURAL Real Estate Partners, shares her vision for revitalizing underinvested neighborhoods during the 2024 1RealEstateWorld Global Real Estate Conference. In her session, Redefining Neighborhood Revitalization: How Impact-Driven Real Estate Transforms Community Ecosystems, Zeigler outlines her strategy for creating inclusive, economically resilient communities through thoughtful real estate development. Her approach challenges traditional models of urban revitalization by focusing on sustainability, community engagement, and economic opportunity.
Transforming Neighborhoods Through Community-Focused Real Estate
Zeigler draws from her experience in commercial real estate, where she oversees grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use developments, to found MURAL Real Estate Partners. MURAL, standing for “Mixed-Use Revitalization Approach Locally,” focuses on transforming underinvested areas by combining economic development with social sustainability. Zeigler believes real estate can serve as a tool for positive change, benefitting not just investors, but also the communities where these projects take root.
Zeigler emphasizes that real estate impacts more than buildings—it shapes people’s lives. “When you create spaces where people want to live, work, and engage, you create long-term value for everyone—residents, businesses, and investors,” she explains. MURAL targets underdeveloped urban areas with the mission to build mixed-use communities that foster economic opportunity, social cohesion, and resilience.
The Importance of Ground-Floor Activation
One of the key components of Zeigler’s strategy involves “ground-floor activation.” Zeigler views the ground floor as the critical piece for revitalizing communities, noting that it serves as the focal point for social interaction and economic activity. Zeigler underscores that successful revitalization starts at street level, creating spaces where people gather, interact, and build connections.
In Jamaica, Queens, for instance, Zeigler's team undertakes a transformation of an area once dominated by car dealerships and retail stores. Positioned near transit hubs like the Long Island Railroad, the project opens up an affordable alternative to Manhattan and Brooklyn. Zeigler's focus rests on making ground-level spaces vibrant and functional, creating a lively environment that draws residents and businesses alike. She explains, “Activating the ground floor drives the value of everything built above it.”
Building Social Sustainability with Mixed-Income Housing
Zeigler speaks to the growing affordability crisis, particularly for working-class and middle-income families. She believes traditional urban development models, which focus either on luxury housing or subsidized affordable housing, leave a critical gap for middle-income earners. Zeigler explains that MURAL seeks to address this gap by incorporating mixed-income housing into its developments.
In her projects, Zeigler combines affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing to create economically diverse communities. Her focus on “social sustainability” helps ensure that communities remain vibrant, welcoming, and resilient for people across various income levels. Zeigler emphasizes, “Our goal is to build neighborhoods where families want to stay long-term, raising their children and returning after college.” This approach creates community continuity and long-term stability.
Public-Private Partnerships: A Key to Success
Zeigler explains the necessity of public-private partnerships in revitalizing underinvested neighborhoods. MURAL collaborates with municipal governments to access subsidies, tax abatements, and infrastructure grants. These public investments, paired with private capital, generate long-term financial returns while revitalizing communities.
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MURAL’s work in Southwest Atlanta exemplifies this approach. In transforming two aging shopping centers into a mixed-use development, Zeigler notes how public funds catalyze private investments. She emphasizes, “Public sector involvement is essential. It allows us to bring the necessary capital to revitalize these communities and generate long-term private returns.”
Addressing Climate Change and Sustainability
Zeigler highlights the importance of sustainability in modern real estate, especially in response to climate change. MURAL’s developments prioritize environmentally sustainable practices, such as the use of mass timber in construction. Zeigler explains how this choice not only reduces the carbon footprint of the development but also ensures its long-term environmental resilience.
Zeigler advocates for developers to view sustainability through both environmental and social lenses. Sustainability, in her view, is not just about building green structures but about creating communities that last. “We must think long-term about the resilience of the neighborhoods we build,” she says, emphasizing how sustainability plays a crucial role in MURAL’s approach.
A Holistic Approach to Neighborhood Revitalization
Zeigler’s real estate strategy encompasses more than the physical buildings. MURAL operates on a holistic model that addresses the needs of the community, from economic opportunity to social and environmental sustainability. Zeigler identifies six key areas of advocacy that her projects address: stable housing, local job creation, education, access to fresh food in food deserts, healthcare in underserved areas, and environmental sustainability.
These pillars of advocacy ensure that MURAL’s developments benefit the community as a whole. Zeigler remarks, “Revitalization isn’t just about real estate. It’s about ensuring the people in these neighborhoods have access to the resources they need to thrive.” By integrating retail, healthcare, and housing into these projects, MURAL creates sustainable ecosystems designed to uplift entire communities.
A New Vision for Urban Revitalization
Robin Zeigler presents a transformative vision for urban revitalization. Through her leadership at MURAL Real Estate Partners, Zeigler demonstrates how real estate development can focus on impact-driven, long-term value. By activating the ground floor, building mixed-income housing, and partnering with public entities, MURAL creates projects that benefit communities and investors alike.
Zeigler’s approach to neighborhood revitalization challenges the traditional models, placing greater emphasis on community building, social sustainability, and climate resilience. Her work at MURAL represents a new standard for real estate development, one that prioritizes both economic and social returns. Zeigler’s session at the 2024 1RealEstateWorld Global Real Estate Conference highlights the future of impact-driven real estate, where communities and investors benefit from meaningful, sustainable transformation.
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