Redefining Neighborhood Revitalization to Build Thriving, Sustainable Ecosystems
Robin Zeigler, Founder and CEO of MURAL Real Estate Partners, brought her vision for revitalizing underinvested communities to the 1RealEstateWorld | 2024 Global Real Estate Conference, offering a transformative approach to real estate development. In her session, "Redefining Neighborhood Revitalization: How Impact-Driven Real Estate is Transforming Community Ecosystems," Zeigler outlined the principles that guide her work at MURAL, where the mission is to build inclusive, sustainable neighborhoods by fostering economic growth, social cohesion, and long-term resilience. Her approach is deeply rooted in creating a positive impact, one that goes beyond financial returns to encompass social and environmental sustainability.
The Power of Community Revitalization
Zeigler’s journey to founding MURAL Real Estate Partners stems from her years of experience in the commercial real estate sector, where she held leadership roles overseeing vast portfolios of grocery-anchored shopping centers and residential developments. As the former COO of Cedar Realty Trust and Federal Realty Investment Trust, she saw firsthand the impact that thoughtful, well-executed real estate development could have on a community. MURAL, which stands for "Mixed-Use Revitalization Approach Locally," was born out of her desire to bring this same transformative energy to underinvested neighborhoods across the U.S.
Zeigler's approach to revitalization is grounded in addressing the needs of the community. She emphasizes that real estate is more than just buildings and properties—it’s about people. “When you create places where people want to live, work, and engage, you create long-term value for everyone—residents, businesses, and investors alike,” Zeigler explains. MURAL’s projects focus on transforming neglected or underdeveloped urban areas into vibrant, mixed-use communities that serve diverse income groups. This is not just about development for development's sake; it’s about bringing life back into the neighborhood and creating environments that foster economic opportunity and social stability.
Ground-Up Revitalization: A Focus on the Ground Floor
A cornerstone of Zeigler’s philosophy is the importance of the ground floor in urban developments. The ground floor is where communities engage, where social interactions happen, and where the true vibrancy of a neighborhood can be cultivated. “If you can activate the ground floor, you can create a destination where people want to linger, shop, and build community,” Zeigler says. For MURAL, it’s not enough to construct residential or commercial buildings; the key is to create spaces that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
Zeigler illustrates this principle with examples from MURAL’s current projects, such as the revitalization efforts in Jamaica, Queens. This project is transforming a corridor of car dealerships and retail outlets into a vibrant, mixed-use community. Positioned near major transit hubs like the Long Island Railroad, with direct access to Grand Central and Penn Station, the area is poised to become an affordable alternative to Manhattan and Brooklyn, offering quality housing, retail, and public amenities.
Zeigler explains that this type of ground-floor activation—whether it’s through grocery stores, local shops, or cafes—is crucial for creating economic value for the residential and commercial spaces above. By revitalizing the ground floor and creating a place where people want to be, MURAL builds a foundation for long-term neighborhood success. These retail and communal spaces, she argues, are what attract residents, drive foot traffic, and ultimately increase the desirability and value of the entire community.
Mixed-Income Housing: Fostering Social Sustainability
Central to MURAL’s vision is the creation of mixed-income housing. Zeigler emphasizes the importance of addressing the affordability crisis that plagues working-class and middle-income Americans. In most urban areas, real estate developments tend to focus on either luxury properties or affordable housing, with little attention paid to the "missing middle"—those who earn too much to qualify for government-subsidized housing but too little to afford market-rate homes in desirable areas.
Zeigler is determined to bridge this gap. MURAL’s projects combine affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing in a single development, creating economically diverse neighborhoods where residents of varying income levels can coexist. “Housing is about more than just providing a roof over people’s heads,” Zeigler asserts. “It’s about creating a place where people of all income levels can thrive and where they can see a future for themselves and their families.”
Zeigler believes this mixed-income approach fosters what she calls "social sustainability"—the idea that neighborhoods should be places where people not only want to live but also want to stay. In the communities MURAL revitalizes, the goal is to create a place where families can raise their children, see them go off to college, and eventually have those children return to the neighborhood as adults to live and work. This continuity is what makes a community resilient, she explains. “When people are invested in their neighborhoods, the whole ecosystem thrives.”
Public-Private Partnerships: The Key to Success
One of the key components of MURAL’s impact-driven approach is the leveraging of public-private partnerships. Zeigler acknowledges that revitalizing underinvested neighborhoods requires more than just private capital—it demands collaboration with municipal governments and public entities to overcome the barriers to investment that have historically stunted these areas.
For example, in MURAL’s projects, public subsidies such as tax abatements, infrastructure grants, and affordable housing incentives are combined with private investment to make these revitalization efforts financially viable. Zeigler believes this collaboration is crucial to driving long-term success in underdeveloped areas. “Public sector involvement is essential,” she says. “Without it, many of these projects simply wouldn’t be possible. But when you marry private capital with public incentives, you create a powerful engine for change.”
A project that exemplifies this approach is MURAL’s development in Southwest Atlanta, where two aging shopping centers are being transformed into a vibrant mixed-use community. By leveraging public subsidies and municipal support, MURAL is able to create a development that not only brings housing and retail but also generates local jobs and improves public infrastructure. The goal, Zeigler says, is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where the development doesn’t just benefit investors but also uplifts the entire community.
Addressing Climate Change and Building Resilience
Zeigler’s vision for neighborhood revitalization extends beyond the immediate social and economic impacts to include long-term environmental sustainability. She recognizes that real estate must adapt to the challenges posed by climate change, and her projects reflect a commitment to sustainable building practices.
In partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, MURAL is exploring the use of mass timber—a sustainable building material—in its Jamaica, Queens project. This innovative approach is designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the development while also creating a resilient built environment that can better withstand the effects of climate change.
“Climate change is real, and it’s already affecting communities in profound ways,” Zeigler says. “We need to be thinking not just about how to build housing and retail, but how to build it sustainably, so it lasts for generations.”
A Holistic Approach to Community Building
At the heart of Zeigler’s work is a belief in the power of real estate to drive positive change. Her projects are not just about physical buildings—they’re about creating ecosystems that support long-term community growth. MURAL’s six-point advocacy framework guides the company’s efforts, focusing on stable housing, job creation, access to education, fresh food in food deserts, healthcare services in healthcare deserts, and sustainability.
For Zeigler, these elements are all interconnected. “You can’t just build housing and call it a day. You have to think about what the people in that housing need to thrive. Do they have access to good schools, jobs, healthcare, and fresh food? Are we building in a way that will sustain these communities for generations to come?”
Zeigler’s holistic approach to revitalization challenges the status quo of real estate development, urging industry leaders to think beyond short-term profits and focus on long-term community resilience. By prioritizing impact-driven investments and building sustainable, inclusive communities, Zeigler and MURAL Real Estate Partners are redefining what it means to revitalize neighborhoods.
A Vision for the Future of Real Estate
Robin Zeigler’s session at the 1RealEstateWorld | 2024 Global Real Estate Conference offers a clear vision for the future of real estate development. Through MURAL Real Estate Partners, she is transforming neglected communities into thriving, mixed-use neighborhoods that provide both economic and social value. Her focus on ground-floor activation, mixed-income housing, public-private partnerships, and sustainability sets a new standard for how real estate can drive meaningful, lasting change.
Zeigler’s work is a testament to the power of real estate as a force for good, and her impact-driven approach serves as a model for how developers, investors, and public officials can collaborate to create vibrant, resilient communities that benefit everyone.
>> WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE PRESENTATION SESSION HERE
