James F. Lima

President, James Lima Planning + Development

Mr. Lima is President of James Lima Planning + Development, an advisory firm focused on investments in the public realm and structuring public-private partnerships in real estate development. James has expertise in affordable housing and economic development initiatives focused on revitalizing urban centers and post-industrial waterfronts. Over the past two decades, he has successfully aligned the interests of private and public entities to build close to $1 billion worth of mixed-income housing, retail and new public amenities throughout North America. A strategic planner, consensus builder, and pragmatic problem-solver, James is hailed as an effective and creative leader in the public-private real estate development business. Previously, Mr. Lima served as NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s appointee as the founding President of the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation, overseeing the planning, redevelopment and operations of the historic 172-acre former military facility in New York Harbor. Mr. Lima earned a B.A. from Columbia University and stayed on at Columbia to complete the Master of Science in Real Estate Development Program, where he is now an Assistant Adjunct Professor. He has lectured at Princeton, Yale, Syracuse, Penn, and in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Sao Paulo. He lives in NYC and Tiverton, Rhode Island.

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA