The Practice
Personalized attention to developers and local governments interested in mixed-use, walkable development
Special Interests:
• Long-range financial planning for mixed-use development
• Governance and management
• Relationships between business owners and residents
• Form-based codes and design review
• Proper treatment of public, private and quasi-public places
• Use of nonprofit organizations in sustainable communities
About Doris S. Goldstein:
Doris Sussman Goldstein is an attorney and planning consultant who works toward the creation and effective management of sustainable, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use communities. Since 1986, Ms. Goldstein has been closely involved with every aspect of the growth of Seaside, the award-winning community on the Florida Panhandle that began the urban design philosophy known as New Urbanism, and that inspired the movement toward Smart Growth. Her experience with Seaside and other communities, which extends past the initial development stage to include operational issues, commercial development and succession planning, gives her unique practical experience and insight.
In addition to her work in the private sector, Ms. Goldstein also consults with local governments interested in implementing mixed use and walkable urbanism. She was an active member of the Downtown Investment Authority board in Jacksonville, Florida, the city’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) agency (2014-2015), where she chaired the effort to redesign a key piece of urban waterfront, and has served on Technical Assistance Panels sponsored by the Urban Land Institute.
Ms. Goldstein graduated with high honors from the University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communication, in 1975 and cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1982. She has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1982, is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell ® (highest rating) and is named one of the Best Lawyers in America ®, 2009-present. She is licensed to practice law in Florida. Elsewhere, her consulting practice is limited to planning and business matters.
Through her published articles and lectures, Ms. Goldstein has worked to define the best practices for communities that blend commercial and residential uses and to explore the issues inherent in private, public, and quasi-public spaces. Ms. Goldstein is the co-author, with Dan Slone, of a book, A Legal Guide to Urban and Sustainable Development for Planners, Developers and Architects. She has lectured at seminars presented by the American Bar Association, Urban Land Institute, the Congress for the New Urbanism, the Seaside Institute, Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education, and the University of Miami School of Law Continuing Legal Education.
She is on the board of the Seaside Institute. She is also a past member of the board of the California Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism and participated in its 2017 design charrette, in collaboration with the City of Woodland, for suburban retrofit of the County Fair Mall.