Karl Seidman Bio

Karl Seidman is a Senior Lecturer in Economic Development and Head of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning’s Housing and Community Economic Development program group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Karl is a nationally-known expert in economic development finance and neighborhood commercial district revitalization. He has extensive practical experience in community revitalization, downtown redevelopment and public financing. He has been an evaluator and advisor to the Boston Main Streets Programs, the largest and oldest citywide neighborhood commercial revitalization program and serves on the board of the Boston Main Streets Foundation. His experience includes the preparation of economic development plans and strategies, the design, management, and evaluation of development finance programs, and the financing and supervision of complex development projects. He is the author of Economic Development Finance, a new textbook, and Revitalizing Commerce for American Cities: A Practitioner’s Guide to Urban Main Street Programs, and over forty consulting reports.