Michigan — Faculty — Incremental Development Alliance

Jenifer Acosta

Jenifer Acosta is a solutions-driven community developer recognized for revitalizing historic buildings and catalyzing economic development. Passionate about preserving underutilized spaces, she bridges the old and new to create dynamic, thriving communities with a strong sense of place.

Since 2016, Jenifer has led real estate development projects across the Great Lakes Bay Region, sparking additional investments and inspiring local action. As the Lead Consultant for Housing Forward, Midland, she provides data-driven strategies to address attainable housing needs, offering hands-on technical assistance, coaching, advocacy, and strategic communications.

Believing that the best solutions emerge from local people leveraging local resources, Jenifer prioritizes projects that balance community connection, environmental impact, and fiscal responsibility.

She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Southern Illinois University, an M.A. in International Administration & Sustainable Development from the University of Miami, and a Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from New York University.

Jenifer’s work has received multiple awards for historic preservation and economic development, reflecting her commitment to thoughtful, sustainable growth.

Areas of expertise: adaptive reuse, multifamily, financial analysis/feasibility, community engagement, regional partnerships, mixed-use

Faculty, Board, AcostaIncDev AllianceJuly 30, 2026Bay City, Michigan

Marques King

Marques King is an architect, urban designer, and proud Detroit native dedicated to building sustainable, equitable neighborhoods in his hometown. As Economic Development & Design Manager for EJDevCo, a nonprofit developer focused on Detroit's Eastside, and founder of Fabric[K] Design, Marques works to make good design accessible to everyday people and foster a "Detroit Neighborhood Renaissance."

Raised in Detroit, Marques was inspired by the contrast between the city he knew and stories of its prosperous past told by his grandparents. This drove him to pursue architecture and construction at Lawrence Technological University, where he earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Architecture and Construction Management. After graduate studies at the University of Maryland—where his thesis explored urban deconstruction as a means to preserve Detroit's history—he worked with renowned urban designer Dhiru Thadani on award-winning projects including The Seaside Nolli Plan and masterplans in Nanjing, China and Westside Atlanta, both recognized by the Congress for the New Urbanism.

As a licensed architect, Marques has worked with leading firms across the country including Bonstra|Haresign Architects, Thadani Architects + Urbanists, Anderson|Kim Architecture + Urban Design, and others on complex residential and mixed-use projects. Through Fabric[K] Design, he leverages this experience to create neighborhoods that honor Detroit's character while meeting its future needs—bringing his passion and expertise back to the city that raised him.

Areas of expertise: architecture, construction management, mixed-use

Faculty, Board, KingIncDev AllianceJuly 18, 2026Detroit, Michigan

Sharon Woods

Sharon Woods is the founding Principal and President of LandUseUSA | Urban Strategies. Her specialty is studying the lifestyle preferences of migrating households, forecasting market opportunities, and developing strategies for cities, urban planners, and developers. She focuses on target markets and their cravings for downtown shopping, urban housing formats, placemaking amenities, and social interaction.

Sharon is an active proponent and advocate for urbanism, placemaking, and aesthetics through good building form and design. She contributes to the urbanism cause by developing housing and residential market studies, retail market studies, and land use strategies. Her personal mission is to inform and encourage communities, developers, and investors on ways to create vibrant urban places that are engaging while helping them intercept target market households who are on the move across the nation.

Sharon serves as a faculty member with the Incremental Development Alliance, a non-profit and volunteer-based organization focused on teaching developers how to reinvest into their communities, and with small projects that incrementally add value. She is also serves as the Vice President for the Michigan Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism; and on the Resource Council for Smart Growth America's Form Based Codes Institute. Last but not least, she also serves on the Board of Directors for her local Downtown Development Authority (Laingsburg DDA).

Sharon began her career with twelve years in leadership positions at four Fortune 500 retail corporations; and developed expertise in location intelligence, site selection, revenue forecasting, and market analysis. She grew up in the Historic Seward Neighborhood of Minneapolis and has worked in four downtowns, including Minneapolis (Target), Cincinnati (Macy's), Detroit (GM), and Lansing (consulting). These urban places were inspirational, and in 2000 she decided on the career change that has enabled her to make an invaluable contribution to the urbanism cause.

Areas of expertise: site selection, location analysis, site planning, market research & analysis, lifestyle preferences