<p><span class="p-body">Larisa Ortiz is a nationally recognized urban planner and economic development strategist whose work sits at the intersection of real estate, public policy, and place-based economic development. She is Managing Director of Public Non-Profit Solutions at Streetsense, where she leads a national practice advising cities and civic organizations on downtown revitalization, retail and place-based economic development.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">A former New York City Planning Commissioner, Larisa has held senior positions at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the New York City Department of Small Business Services, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Her work has ranged from major land use and redevelopment initiatives to the design of national economic development programs, grantmaking initiatives, and tools that help communities make more informed investment decisions.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Much of her current work and research focuses on retail and the ground-floor environments that shape the economic and experiential life of cities and downtowns. She is particularly interested in storefront streets as a distinct asset class within retail real estate, one shaped not only by individual property economics but by the performance of the surrounding district, changing consumer demand, and public policy.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Larisa holds a Master in City Planning from MIT, with a specialization in real estate and a Certificate in Urban Design, and a BA with Honors from Wesleyan University. She is a Fulbright Scholar and Watson Fellow and has taught and lectured on urban economics, downtown development, and place management at Harvard University, Pratt Institute, and through the International Downtown Association.</span></p>