People Principals

A founding principal of RSG, Kathleen Rosenow has 36 years of experience in community and economic development. Ms. Rosenow is a recognized expert in redevelopment, specializing in redevelopment project area formation, plan implementation, bond financing, affordable housing, commercial revitalization, and economic development. Ms. Rosenow has directed the creation or amendment of over 75 redevelopment project areas throughout California; provided fiscal consulting services in support of over $1 billion of tax increment bonds; consulted on redevelopment implementation projects including solicitation of developers; prepared financial pro forma analyses; structured financial terms and negotiated Disposition and Development Agreements (DDAs); structured and monitored tax increment pass-through agreements; verified tax increment calculations; and directed community outreach programs and educational forums.

Ms. Rosenow recently managed a team to assist the City of San Jose in amending redevelopment plans to significantly increase tax increment limits, delete one project area from redevelopment, and add tax increment authority to a portion of the project area. This assignment was particularly challenging because the area consisted of 21 separate project areas, required significant documentation of existing physical and economic conditions, required extensive coordination with Agency staff and legal counsels, and was on a short schedule for completion.

Ms. Rosenow is currently the principal-in-charge of an assignment with the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles to merge seven redevelopment projects in the South Los Angeles area. The project involves extensive community outreach and coordination of multiple team members and processes.

Ms. Rosenow currently serves as a technical advisor on the California Redevelopment Association (CRA) Board of Directors. She has designed and presented many training sessions offered by the CRA, including the 2009 and 2010 courses on Effective Agency Administration.

Ms. Rosenow's introduction to redevelopment occurred when she was a high school student in the City of Detroit during the 1967 riots. She was part of an inner-city high school music program that was selected by the City and supported by city business leaders to improve the image of Detroit, both nationally and internationally. Since that time, she has been motivated by the desire to improve communities, create jobs, promote better and smarter infill development, and make municipal government fiscally viable. She enjoys the challenge of leading redevelopment implementation activities, particularly the opportunities to work with community participants and stakeholders to influence and enhance their own communities. She also enjoys the challenges of being a small business owner and employer.