Cary specializes in the management of transformative urban development and the crafting of policies that promote inclusive economic growth and resilience. He leads HR&A’s Sports & Entertainment District Practice, advising public and private sector clients on pre-development planning for sports-anchored mixed-use districts.

Transformative Urban Development

Cary has led some of HR&A’s most complex pre-development efforts, guiding multidisciplinary teams through technical review, master planning, negotiations, and entitlement processes. His work includes a next-generation plan for Houston’s Buffalo Bayou East—attracting a historic $100 million catalyst gift and $210 million in additional funding—and a renewed vision and development framework for Fort Worth’s 400+ acre Panther Island. He has also helped shape major waterfront developments, including a 5-million-square-foot mixed-use project on the Brooklyn-Queens waterfront and a 50-acre bayfront park and mixed-use development to revitalize downtown Clearwater, FL.

Sports-Anchored Mixed-Use Districts

As leader of HR&A’s Sports & Entertainment District Practice, Cary has advised clients across MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, and collegiate sports to create visionary plans for mixed-use development. He supported the Chicago Bears in planning for a 326-acre stadium-anchored district in Arlington Heights; guided the United Center Joint Venture (Bulls and Blackhawks) in a development framework for the 40-acre 1901 Project; advised MLS franchises on stadium developments in New York and Miami; and supported the Kansas City Royals’ pursuit of a new urban ballpark district. He has also supported public sector partners like the City of St. Petersburg and the City of Cleveland in structuring major redevelopment efforts around sports venues, including the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District, home to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Equitable Economic Development Policy

Cary helps cities modernize economic development tools to drive equity, competitiveness, and public return. He is a national expert in economic incentive structuring, and has helped reshape policies in Dallas, Tulsa, Columbus, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, among others—creating new programs, launching new entities, and aligning incentives with inclusive outcomes. His work in Tulsa led to the creation of PartnerTulsa, a new economic development entity focused on shared prosperity, while his guidance in Dallas and Columbus has helped reshape incentives practices to redirect investment to historically under-resourced communities and promote investments in affordable housing, workforce training, and infrastructure investment.

Climate Strategy

Cary also advises clients in the design and implementation of policies and programs supporting climate adaptation, mitigation, and the energy transition. He co-led the Lower Manhattan Climate Resilience Study and guided a master plan to protect the Financial District and South Street Seaport. He has supported rural communities in Maine for projects leveraging excess grid capacity and renewable energy assets to drive economic development, and recently helped launch a community-based plan around Renewable Ravenswood, a plan to transform a power station into a green energy powered battery storage facility. Cary also advises on building decarbonization policy and program design, including a landmark study on carbon trading for NYC buildings and strategic initiatives for Con Edison, NYSERDA, CPC Climate Capital, the City of New York, and the Urban Green Council.

Cary holds a Bachelors degree from Cornell University, and a Masters of Urban Planning from New York University.

Member, International Economic Development Council, Redefining Equitable Economic Development Advisory Committee

Member, Urban Land Institute, Entertainment Development Council and ULI Next

Local Law 97 Economic Impact Working Group