Doug McPherson

Doug received his master's at MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning. His concentration is Housing, Community and Economic Development, and his research focuses on policies and initiatives that promote the development of open space while mitigating displacement impacts as new parks make neighborhoods increasingly desirable. He examines the emerging trend of equitable development plans developed by open space advocates to marry investment in parks with new employment opportunities and incentives to create and preserve affordable housing. He also evaluates the challenges and opportunities of incorporating anti-displacement policies into land use codes and taxation frameworks. As a member of MIT and the Conservation Law Foundation's Healthy Neighborhoods Equity Fund research team, Doug has contributed to studies of the environmental, health, and community impacts of transit-oriented real estate development. Doug has advocated for additional public investment in open space, first as a congressional aide and more recently as a steering committee member at Friends of the QueensWay, a group dedicated to completing a 3.5-mile rails-to-trails project traversing the Rego Park, Forest Hills, Glendale, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, and Woodhaven neighborhoods in New York City. Also prior to MIT, Doug served as Legislative Director to New York City Council Member David G. Greenfield, Chair of the Youth Employment Committee on Queens Community Board Ten, and Implementation Lead at a health information technology startup. Doug holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania.