NYU Furman Center Summer Speaker Series - Emily Kurtz

Please join the NYU Furman Center for a presentation:

Holding the Center:
Preserving Affordability Amid an Existential Crisis in Community-Based, Not-for-Profit Owned Housing

with

Emily Kurtz
Chief Housing and Development Officer
RiseBoro Community Partnership Inc.

Community-based affordable housing developers in New York City are facing a perfect storm: rising operating costs, escalating insurance premiums, aging buildings with growing deferred maintenance needs, and shrinking reserves—yet rents remain low by design to serve those most in need. This talk will examine the mounting existential crisis threatening the sustainability of mission-driven affordable housing across the city. How do we stay true to the values of permanent affordability and community control while contending with severe financial strain? What tools, policies, and partnerships are needed to preserve deeply affordable rents without compromising the long-term financial and physical health of our portfolios? Join us for a candid discussion on the urgent crossroads facing community developers as we seek to stabilize and strengthen this critical sector.

Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. E.T.

Location: Furman Hall, Seminar Room 120

245 Sullivan Street, New York, NY, 10012

A light lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.

Virtual attendees are welcome to register via Zoom.

Please register here using this link.

About the Presenter:

Emily leads the vertically integrated team responsible for the development, construction, property management, asset management, and onsite supportive services at RiseBoro. During her 15+ year tenure with the organization, RiseBoro has become a premier partner development partner for NYC Affordable Housing Development, and has developed over 2000 units of housing, with 1800 units currently in construction, and an additional 3700 units in the pipeline.

Ms. Kurtz is fluent in the complexities of subsidized housing development and asset management, including LIHTC, HOME, AHP, Section 8 and other HUD financing programs, having closed over 20 new construction and preservation transactions. She has over 10 years direct experience in NYC property and asset management, and 5 years supervising the teams providing onsite supportive services to our most vulnerable tenants. Ms. Kurtz graduated with honors from Brandeis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and completed a Master’s of Science in Urban Planning at Columbia University where she concentrated on housing and transportation issues of seniors.

She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, two sons, two cats, and a growing number of houseplants.

Please register here using this link.