About The Furman Center

Since its founding in 1995, the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy has become the leading academic research center in New York City devoted to the public policy aspects of land use, real estate development and housing. The Center is dedicated to the following three missions:

• Providing objective academic and empirical research on the legal and public policy issues involving land use, real estate, housing and urban affairs in the United States, with a particular focus on New York City;


• Promoting frank and productive discussions among elected and appointed officials, leaders of the real estate industry, leaders of non-profit housing and community development organizations, scholars, faculty and students about critical issues in land use, real estate and urban policy;


• Presenting essential data and analysis about the state of New York City’s housing and neighborhoods to all those involved in land use, real estate development, community economic development, housing, urban economics and urban policy.  The Furman Center manages two websites that help disseminate information on New York City’s housing and neighborhoods to the public:  

• PlanNYC is a comprehensive urban planning website, with news summaries and links to development-related articles, official documents such as environmental impact statements, and a citywide calendar of upcoming planning events, including local community board meetings and public hearings. PlanNYC brings together information from advocacy organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, neighborhood groups, and media organizations, all in one location. 

• The New York City Neighborhood Information Service (NYCHANIS) is an interactive website that allows users to obtain data and information about New York City neighborhoods and create custom-made tables, charts, graphs, and maps.

The Furman Center is the only joint research center of the New York University School of Law and the New York University Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. The Center is named in honor of NYU Law alumnus Jay Furman, class of '71, who is a member of both the NYU School of Law Foundation Board of Trustees and the NYU Board of Trustees. Mr. Furman, an international real estate investor and developer, provided generous financial support to endow the Center, and is a constant source of support, ideas, and inspiration.

The Furman Center is directed by Vicki Been, the Elihu Root Professor of Law. Ingrid Gould Ellen, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Urban Planning, is the Co-Director of the Center. More than 15 faculty from the Law School, the Wagner School, and NYU's Faculty of Arts and Sciences are involved in the Center's work.