Karen Gray
Director of Development
- Role
- Project Director at John M. Corcoran & Company
- Location
- Boston, MA, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Karen Gray
I like to solve problems. I have sat on all sides of the real estate table throughout my 25-year career. This multi-perspective experience gives me a unique understanding of complex, mixed-use real estate deals and the often-competing interests that shape them. I excel at managing the real estate chaos, making decisions and moving projects to completion. In short, I am good at and thoroughly enjoy getting things done.Throughout my career I have overseen diverse project teams to deliver more than $2 billion in new development on-time and on-budget though effective team management. My background and diverse work experience help me understand and solve problems across disciplines. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Oberlin College, a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University and spent my early career working for the Boston Redevelopment Authority managing special projects for the Director and later acting as the Chief of Staff. Since that time, I have worked as an investor (AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust), lender (Fleet Bank), and for over 20 years as a housing developer (John M. Corcoran & Co, WS Development, Greystar, Ascent, The Community Builders, Strategic Development Solutions, POUA).
Experience
Project Director
Nov 2023 — Present · Boston, MA, US
In 2023, I joined John M Corcoran & Company as the Project Director for the DUO Apartments development in Chelsea MA. This 330 mixed-income apartment community is being developed under the State\'s 40R Smart Growth program that encourages communities to incentivize dense mixed-use, mixed-income developments near transit stations. The project involved the abatement and demolition of eight existing public housing buildings which are be now being replaced with 194 market-rate apartments, 96 public housing units, and 40 workforce housing units. The project includes a 257-space parking garage, sf of retail space, a fitness center, playground, courtyard with a fire pit and grilling stations, game room with a golf simulator, work-from-home lounge, pet spa, two sky lounges, and three roof decks with panoramic views downtown Boston. I delivered the DUO Apartments under budget and ahead of schedule in the summer of 2025.
Education
Harvard University
Master of City and Regional Planning/MPP, Planning and Real Estate
Oberlin College
Bachelor's of Arts, Architecture and Urban Studies
Skills
- Public Policy
- Commercial Real Estate
- Editing
- Real Estate Development
- Strategic Planning
- Leadership
- Grant Writing
- Public Speaking
- Affordable Housing
- Data Analysis
- Economic Development
- Strategy
- Fundraising
- Feasibility Studies
- Project Management
- Budgets
- Community Outreach
- Nonprofits
- Program Development
- Sustainability
- Budgeting
- Research
- Real Estate
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