Deborah L. Myerson, AICP
Founder/Principal
Myerson Consulting (Est. 2003)
Deborah L. Myerson, AICP is an urban planner and housing & community development consultant. With more than 20 years of experience in the field, she helps advocates and leaders deliver real-world impact with incisive publications, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and program strategy and delivery.
I help housing and community development organizations with research and writing that highlight their mission, drive policy, and elevate public understanding.
Specialties: Affordable and mixed-income housing, land use policy, transportation, planning and real estate development, and local/state governments. My work is driven by values rooted in social justice, equity and inclusion.
National clients have included the American Planning Association, the National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Realtors, and the Urban Land Institute.
Selected publications:
Bimonthly contributions to NAHB’s digital magazine about the value of good design and the connection between home and community.
How Did They Do It? Discovering New Opportunities for Affordable Housing
Features a dozen detailed case studies from across the country that showcase the many ways in which communities can increase housing affordability.
PROSPECTS FOR NEW HOUSING COOPERATIVES: Feasibility Study for Housing Cooperatives in the Northern Rockies
Contributed literature review and national case studies to a report on the feasibility of developing housing cooperatives in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Other Professional Experience
South Central Indiana Housing Opportunities
Ms. Myerson served as executive director of South Central Indiana Housing Opportunities (SCIHO) (2016-2020), pursuing the nonprofit’s mission to increase access to affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families in Bloomington, Monroe County, and surrounding counties.
Highlights include:
- Developed Switchyard Apartments, a $1.39 million affordable housing project
- Launched Housing4Hoosiers.org, a resource for renters and landlords to learn more about their rights and responsibilities in their rental home attracting over 43,000 users annually.
- Published “Renting in Indiana: A Handbook for Tenants and Landlords” for statewide distribution
- Produced a semi-annual Tenant/Landlord Education Series in Monroe County attracting 200+ registrants
Indiana University, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
As an adjunct professor at the Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (2011-2016), Ms. Myerson taught courses on housing policy and urban planning designed to engage students in real-life issues with community-based service-learning assignments at local agencies.
Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts in the world. As a senior associate in land use policy (2001-2003), Ms. Myerson managed research, education, outreach and advisory services projects in land use policy and real estate, including housing policy, smart growth, environmental policy, and urban development.
Education, Certifications, and Awards
- Rental Housing Development Finance Professional, National Development Council
- Division Chair Award, American Planning Association
- Member, American Institute of Certified Planners
- Master of Regional Planning, Cornell University
- Bachelor of the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Civic and Professional Affiliations
- Member, Bloomington Redevelopment Commission (Indiana)
- Member/Past Vice Chair, Monroe County Affordable Housing Advisory Commission (Indiana)
- Trainer, Implicit Bias Community of Practice – Building a Thriving & Compassionate Community, Monroe County Youth Services Bureau, Ind.
- Southern Regional Representative, Indiana Chapter =American Planning Association
- Executive Committee/Past Chair, Private Practice Division, American Planning Association
- Communications Committee, Housing and Community Development Division, American Planning Association
MYERSON CONSULTING 