Making the Business Case: Why Health is Essential for Community Vitality

As a former finance official in Massachusetts state government and founding partner, Principal, and Executive Vice President of a leading urban real estate development firm, Mr. Lee brings a great depth and breadth of perspective to public/private collaboration. Since 1987, Mr. Lee's firm has developed over 5,300 units of housing – $1.4 billion worth of development. Nearly all of the developments Mr. Lee has undertaken have required creative partnerships between public and private actors to advance positively transformative projects that benefit the health and well being of their residents and communities. As a leader of a socially-responsible business, Mr. Lee's urban developments have modeled mixed-income, transit-oriented, healthy building and smoke-free principles that health officials and advocates hold up as model developments. In his role as a member of Boston Public Health Commission's Communities Putting Prevention to Work Leadership Team, Mr. Lee has shared his valuable insight to help public health professionals to navigate a the complicated landscape toward policies that improve the built environment.