Abby Hamlin is a New York City based real estate developer and civic thinker. She is the founder and President of Hamlin Ventures, which is one of a handful of successful woman-owned development companies. Focusing on select, design-driven projects that engage urban issues Hamlin’s innovative projects earn the support of communities, win design awards, and at the same time, deliver stellar returns to their investors. Ms. Hamlin is especially proud of her role as initiator of The Schermerhorn, a 217-unit supportive housing residence completed in partnership with Common Ground Community, which demonstrated the collective benefit of public/private collaboration in helping affordable housing keep pace with market rate development. Prior to forming Hamlin Ventures in 1997, Ms. Hamlin was President of Swig Weiler & Arnow Mgt. Co., Inc. a premiere commercial real estate company that developed, owned and managed major office properties, as well as the Fairmont Hotels. Known as an active civic leader and expert in the field of public design, Ms. Hamlin currently serves on the boards of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, the Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation, the Forum For Urban Design and Art Omi. Previously she chaired the board of the Van Alen Institute. She has also served as a juror for the NEA’s ArtWorks program, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and the Enterprise Community Foundation, as well as an advisor to the Mayor’s Institute of Design. From 2010-2016 Ms. Hamlin was an adjunct professor at Columbia University where she taught graduate courses in real estate development. Ms. Hamlin holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a Masters of Urban Planning from Princeton University.
