Audra Ladd, Tufts University,
Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning

Arts/culture and economic development

My internship at the City of Somerville’s, Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development confirmed for me that planning and real estate development is my next career path. Working with Dana LeWinter and Paul Mackey was really a good experience as they included me in all major projects of the housing team and helped me understand the context, politics and process for many of my questions and ideas.
I am leaning more toward planning after understanding how powerful zoning and financing tools are at the city level. I also feel that I have the confidence to one day become a non-profit developer of artist space.
I have decided to write my masters thesis on developing artist space as a way to stem artist-led gentrification and as a way to enhancing arts focused economic development. I am also thinking about starting a non-profit real-estate development and consulting company that develops artist space for cities and towns (or provides zoning and funding consulting).  I will be working on the business plan after (or concurrent with) my thesis. I may take a job in real estate development to gain experience before I launch.