About CityCraft VenturesAs a true partner in the redevelopment process, CityCraft works hand-in-hand with cities to establish shared vision and goals, research and catalogue community resources, secure investment, mobilize community participants, and implement a long-term, cross-sector plan. Cities working with CityCraft have seen dramatic changes in the quality of life in neighbourhoods that previously did not respond to redevelopment efforts.Many cities in North America are dealing with similar challenges that do not respond to a piecemeal, surface-level approach to development. Enter CityCraft, with a proven process of transforming deeply distressed urban communities into vibrant, showpiece neighbourhoods with environmental, social, and economic sustainability and resiliency. We help restore the long-term economic, social, and environmental health of our cities.Instead of traditional models that bring in short-term outside solutions that ultimately displace existing residents, the CityCraft approach begins with a detailed investigation into the inherent strengths within the community, from community organizations to school infrastructure. These local resources and active engagement with residents is harnessed to create a plan entirely tailored to that community. Communities undertaking the CityCraft approach will* be equipped for participation in a restorative economy that restores the environment and constantly feeds itself in a self-sustaining in the long term* have an active economic and social justice focus based on local needs and skills* be designed for greatly reduced environmental impactsCityCraft™ VenturesCCV_ef976f1e-81f7-11e8-8d37-e9bba7355ae0CityCraft™ Ventures is a leader in creating long-term solutions to complicated real estate development projects at the building, block and city level. Our time-tested process is rooted in a holistic approach, which enables us to uncover higher returns, sustainable outcomes and community buy-in.TownsThe opportunity is enormous. There are around 5,000 towns and cities across the US and Canada, most of which have struggled with difficult neighborhoods. Many are committed to turn these neighborhoods around and provide better opportunities for their citizens, but there are few examples of success. CityCraft does not dictate a solution. We work to identify and connect resources as an objective outside advisor.CitiesTeam CityCraftCityCraft is built around a team of industry leaders with diverse and complimentary experience, ranging from project design & management to ecological restoration and social justice development. Each member understands and enjoys the team-based approach which produces superior results. CityCraft has developed a new way of thinking about urban development and in the process created a blueprint to increase property values, break negative cycles and manage modern city redevelopment.John L. Knott, Jr.Founder and President of CityCraft, Owner -- John L. Knott, Jr. is an internationally recognized leader in the regeneration of urban real estate, infrastructure, energy and environmental systems. He is the creator of the CityCraft process, which is a development and city planning process that restores the economic, environmental and social health of cities. Mr. Knott is a recognized thought leader and keynote speaker on sustainable development, the green economy and restoration of cities. A third generation developer, Mr. Knott has over 40 years of experience in urban redevelopment. His award-winning projects include work at: the Baltimore Inner Harbor, urban areas in Baltimore and Washington DC; the University of Texas Health Science Center in the Houston Medical Center; Dewees Island in South Carolina; and the Noisette Community of North Charleston in South Carolina. As The Health Product Declaration Collaborative's first Executive Director, John worked with companies and individuals committed to the continuous improvement of the building industry’s environmental and health performance, through transparency and innovation in the building product supply chain. As President/CEO and co-founder of the Noisette Company, LLC, John led the Noisette Project development team, which collaborated with the City of North Charleston, South Carolina, in the sustainable restoration of 3,000 acres of the city’s historic urban core and areas of the former Charleston Naval Base. Mr. Knott also served as the CEO/Managing Director of Island Preservation Partnership, which developed the 1,206-acre Dewees Island oceanfront retreat dedicated to environmental preservation.Stephen CarpenterFounder of Enermodal Engineering, CityCraft Owner -- With over 30 years of green building experience in Canada and around the world, Mr. Carpenter is well respected in the design community for his evidence-based approach to creating buildings that outperform their peers. Prior to joining CityCraft, Mr. Carpenter served as founder and president of Enermodal Engineering, Canada’s largest green building consulting firm. Founded in 1981, Enermodal became the dominant green building consultant in Canada, designing some of the most energy-efficient buildings in the country. The firm grew to 120 staff with offices across Canada and in Denver, CO. Under the leadership of Mr. Carpenter, the firm championed some of the most innovative yet practical green building technologies in Canada, including rainwater cisterns, onsite biofiltration, radiant cooling, renewable energy systems, and variable flow refrigerant systems. Mr. Carpenter's passion, speaking skills, and experience made him an effective leader of integrated building design teams. This design approach ensures that buildings actually achieve the energy or resource savings expected, and are more likely to meet the needs of building occupants as well as those of owners.Caitlin CarpenterDirector of Communications -- Caitlin is a professional marketing and communications consultant based in Waterloo, Ontario. Caitlin has a strong background in strategic marketing, web development, public and media relations, journalism, and Ontario travel. Her seven years of expertise in these fields includes serving as:* a reporter for the Christian Science Monitor international newspaper in Boston, MA* a public relations specialist at the Levick Strategic Communications Agency in Washington DC, helping clients develop publicity plans and secure key coverage in major international newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal* Director of Communications for Enermodal Engineering, Canada’s largest green building consulting firm, redesigning and developing the firm’s websites (www.enermodal.com and www.greenbuildingsthatwork.com), managing a social media presence, securing media coverage (such as the Globe and Mail), producing print collatoral including custom magazines, managing a large budget, overseeing a team of graphic designers, photographers, and web professionals, organized education sessions and an annual education conference for employees and clients, produced touchscreen green education kiosks and building tour apps for clients, and sitting on the Business Development Committee advising on strategic firm goals from a marketing perspective.Caitlin's work has won a variety of awards, including the International Association of Business Communicators Ovation Award, the ZweigWhite Marketing Award, and PRNews Corporate Social Responsibility Award.W. Andrew Gowder, Jr.General Counsel -- Andy Gowder is General Counsel for CityCraft Ventures, LLC. Andy is a shareholder with the Charleston- based law firm of Pratt-Thomas Walker, P.A. His practice is focused on land use, environmental and real property law, local government, and corporate formation and governance for both profit and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Gowder writes and speaks on legal topics relating to land use, urbanism, planning, sustainability and the environment. He is a co-editor of Tax Increment Financing and is an author in Greening Local Government, both published in 2012 by ABA Publishing. He was a co-author of A Legal Guide to Urban and Sustainable Development and was a contributor to the 2008-2010 editions of the book, At the Cutting Edge, Land Use Law from the Urban Lawyer. He is a member and holds leadership positions in the American Bar Association, State and Local Government Law Section (Chair of the Section 2013-2014); the South Carolina Bar, where he has served as a member of the House of Delegates for almost two decades; the Urban Land Institute, as Assistant Chair of the Sustainable Development Council and immediate past Chair and current Governance Chair of ULI South Carolina. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Wake Forest University School of Law, and his B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Wofford College. He is admitted to the bars of South Carolina, where he is a certified mediator, the United States District Court for South Carolina and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.Grant WilliamsDirector of Research -- Grant came to CityCraft because of his devotion to economic democracy, community empowerment, and spatial justice and interest in the CityCrafting process to meet these urban challenges. He believes that a holistic understanding and systems approach to community development is essential to achieve community needs and has been deeply committed to the CityCrafting process in his work in Denver.Grant is currently pursuing a Master's in City Planning at MIT, with a focus on Community and Economic Development. He hopes to explore methods of economic democracy for his thesis and focus on local wealth regeneration and community empowerment in his continued work with CityCraft. He earned a B.A. from Carroll College, summa cum laude. and has engaged in graduate studies in Energy Science and Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Phi Kappa Phi. He was student project lead for three years with Engineers without Borders in Guatemala and worked for the Alternative Energy and Resources Organization as Energy and Data Coordinator for the Repower Montana initiative. He then engaged spent two years in multi-disciplinary energy technology research with the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, a joint institution between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee. Grant has transitioned from energy technology research to urban justice and sustainability because of his commitment to community-based solutions for change and a brighter future._ef97709a-81f7-11e8-8d37-e9bba7355ae0RESTORING THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL HEALTH OF OUR CITIES_ef977158-81f7-11e8-8d37-e9bba7355ae0Shared VisionWe believe that renewed community vision can only come from within a community itself. Our experience is that when people understand the unique social and natural heritage of their community and share a common vision for the future, greater social and economic durability results.CollaborationLarge-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination & integration. Our role is to help organizations look beyond narrow mandates and embrace a holistic solution to urban problems that builds on existing assets.Embedded CapitalCityCrafting may be seen as improved resource management. We believe that the issue is not a lack of money but how funds and resources are identified, appreciated, measured, leveraged, integrated and allocated. Our success in community development has taught us that when we can increase the effectiveness of how human, organizational and natural resources are used, local wealth can be generated.Appropriate ScaleAll natural, organizational, and physical infrastructure systems operate at a certain scale. Our discovery process determines the appropriate scale for successful redevelopment that typically goes beyond the artificial boundaries of a neighbourhood or district.Financial ResiliencyFinancial resiliency comes from building local capacity and careers with wealth creation that is reinvested locally. A key part of CityCrafting is uncovering the necessary training and small business support strategies needed to help communities adapt to new urban economies while building upon existing skill sets relative to the region.SustainabilitySuccess requires an approach that addresses the long-term health of our cities. Sustainable solutions for economic problems recognize that social durability and reduced environmental impact are just as important to the long-term success of any redevelopment project.OpennessOpenness and Transparency – Successful revitalization requires continual feedback. We assist in developing the processes and metrics to measure and report on the environmental, social, and financial impacts of community development long term.TransparencyDistressed AreasTurnaround distressed areas within cities_ef97720c-81f7-11e8-8d37-e9bba7355ae0CitiesCityCraft Ventures, and the CityCraft process, is specifically designed to turnaround distressed areas within our cities. Most cities, planners and developers attempt to help these areas with plans that focus too heavily on isolated efforts, streetscape beautification and buildings. These disparate and cosmetic improvements are important, but The CityCraft team digs deeper.Community AssetMap community assets_ef9772de-81f7-11e8-8d37-e9bba7355ae01We begin by mapping a community’s assets: human, physical, natural and financial.ConnectionsConnect groups from the private, public and non-profit sectors_ef97739c-81f7-11e8-8d37-e9bba7355ae02Private SectorPublic SectorNon-Profit SectorWe connect groups from the private, public and non-profit sectors ...VisionBuild consensus about a vision for the future_ef977450-81f7-11e8-8d37-e9bba7355ae03and build consensus about a vision for the future with a proven community involvement model.When implemented properly, this thorough investigation and plan implementation creates the stage for value creation with entire communities contributing to the success of their own neighborhoods. This results in a platform capable of bringing in capital in many forms including financing for building, infrastructure, bonding and business development.2018-07-07https://www.citycraftventures.com/about/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net