Description
Marc Norman is the founder of the consulting firm ideas and Action and an Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Michigan, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Norman has worked in the field of community development and finance for over 20 years. With degrees in Political Economics (U.C. Berkeley, B.A. 1989) and Urban Planning (UCLA, M.A. 1992) he has worked collaboratively to develop or finance over 2,000 units totaling more than $400 million in total development costs. Having worked for for-profit and non-profit organizations, consulting firms and investment banks he currently consults with architects, planners, non-profit organizations and others throughout the United States and the world. Through Ideas and Action Norman is currently partnered with non-profit housing developers, including the Piedmont Housing Alliance in Charlottesville, VA to assist in master planning for their 150 unit, 11 acre community which will be redeveloped into more than 400 units of mixed income, newly constructed housing with onsite amenities and supportive services. For the State of New York, Norman led a team in Elmira, NY as part of the Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative. This innovative initiative gathered a range of stakeholders, aggregated various data sources and collaborated with families in living in poverty to tackle systemic issues related to housing, employment and wrap around services. Other projects include economic development analysis and anti-gentrification measures on behalf of cities and Community Development Financial Institutions. In addition to the work of the consulting firm Norman conducts research and writes on issues of housing and economic development. Publications include, Projecting Rust Belt Futures: Underwriting Icicles and Leveraging Sidewalks which outlined strategies for bringing investment in neighborhoods where values do not support traditional lending methods. In addition to publications and research Norman created Designing Affordability an exhibition of best practices in policy, finance and architecture encompassing projects from around the world. The exhibition has run in the U.S., Australia and is currently running in the 2017 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture in Shenzhen, China.