Our Projects
The Urban Renaissance Network principals have specialized in the development and implementation of growth projects including neighborhood opportunity hubs and downtown redevelopments.
Private-Public Partnership Collaborations
The Urban Renaissance Network (TURN) principals have specialized in the development and implementation of growth projects with progressive community leaders. We have collectively planned and implemented community development projects with a broad range of private and public leaders from most business and government sectors. We identify and integrate the vision, collaboration, work planning, and funding required to see projects through to execution.
Featured Neighborhood Opportunity Hub Project
John Marshall Opportunity Hub
Indianapolis, Indiana (2020-2022)
The John Marshall Opportunity Hub (JMOH) is a current project which involves a $30 million adaptive re-use of a former 347,000 sq.ft. high school located on a 40-acre site located in Indianapolis’ far-eastside. To date activities have included developing an adaptive re-use plan, engaging neighborhood leadership, collaborating with several neighborhood and Indianapolis institutions, securing site control and fundraising. The project is expected to commence renovation summer 2022.
Roles – Planning, establishing required partnerships, fundraising and master developer
Featured Urban Redevelopment Project
Elkhart River District
Elkhart, IN (2018-2021)
The Elkhart River district was a blighted area surrounding the Elkhart Health and Aquatics Center, located just west of Main Street downtown Elkhart. The 105-acre area includes over $300 million of mixed-use development including apartments, grocery store, commercial, parks and recreational areas, and new streetscapes creating a walkable, urban residential extension to downtown. Over $200 million of the project is under construction.
Roles – Planning, land acquisition, stakeholder engagement, design, fundraising, project implementation, community engagement
More Featured Projects
Woodland Crossing Neighborhood Opportunity Hub
Elkhart, IN (2021-2022)
This current project, advising the City of Elkhart, is a 30-acre prior mall site with a vacant Sears store and compromised strip mall area in the heart of Elkhart’s most diverse and densely populated neighborhood. It includes a Kroger grocery store, which if it vacates, will create a food desert in a promising area adjacent to many industrial jobs. Partnerships with education, training, and healthcare providers have been established and site control plans are underway.
Roles – Planning, establishing required partnerships, development and funding plan
Elkhart Health and Aquatics Center
Elkhart, Indiana (2014-2020)
Initially advised YMCA board of directors through the strategic planning process to reinvent itself as a failing local YMCA. Engaged the local hospital system, community foundation, community schools, philanthropic, and city leaders to support and fully fund with endowment this $70 million regional state-of-the-art health, medical fitness, community, and aquatics center. The center was built and opened in 2020.
Roles – Planning, land acquisition, stakeholder engagement, design, fundraising, project implementation, community engagement
Waukegan Neighborhood Plan and Opportunity Hub
Waukegan, Illinois (2014-2016)
Consulted with the City of Waukegan and neighborhood leadership to create a redevelopment plan for a distressed neighborhood. The redevelopment plan envisioned the redevelopment of over 50 acres of obsolete real estate. The plan included multiple affordable and market rate housing types, retail and an Opportunity Hub. The plan was adopted by the city but tabled due to a change in leadership.
Roles – Planning, neighborhood engagement, pre-development, land acquisition
Central Greens Redevelopment Initiative
Indianapolis, Indiana (2006-2022)
This initiative involved the redevelopment of a 150-acre former state mental hospital site located on Indianapolis’ near westside. Roles included site analysis, master planning, pre-development, site preparation, overseeing initial infrastructure investment, and securing developers and investment. Over 100 acres have been redeveloped with a mix of uses including multi and single-family housing (affordable and market rate), new recreational facilities, historic renovations, and new charter school.
Roles – Lead planner and pre-development advisor
Avondale Meadows Mixed-use Redevelopment Project
Indianapolis, Indiana (2009-2011)
Project included the redevelopment of the former Meadows Shopping Center and nearby obsolete multi-family housing projects. Redevelopment activities involved; 275 new multi-family units, partnering with YMCA to build new facility, addition of 2 charter schools, introduction of new grocery store.
Roles - Development Advisor – Strategic Capital Partners
Madison Avenue Townhomes
Gary, Indiana (1995-1997)
Initiated a planning process that envisioned redeveloping an area bounded by Broadway Avenue to the east, Madison Avenue to the west, 15th Street to the north and 25th Street to the south. Assembled a planning and design team which proposed redevelopment land-uses and an initial development program. Established the Broadway Community Development Corporation and co-developed the first privately-led housing project in Gary for 20 years (1996). Development led to additional redevelopment activity including a YWCA, Senior Housing Project and new single-family development.
Roles - Lead Developer on behalf of Development Concepts, Inc.