I am a community developer.
A practical innovator and value creator.
I’ve learned that great places have a real magic. A vitality that is all about human connection and authentic experiences. They encourage a symbiotic mix that is much more interesting (and healthier) than a monoculture.
My story is one of practice over theory. I’ve spent three decades in development, working on a diverse range of projects across the country. From low-rise to high rise. From a single city block to 10,000 acres. Delivering great places and great returns. First and foremost I am a placemaker. And I’ve learned that great placemaking is as much art as it is business. It requires a holistic understanding: strategic and tactical. The horizontal and the vertical. Human needs and brick-and-mortar design.
The big success stories depend on the ability to visualize the possibilities. To create a compelling strategy and vision, evaluate the implications of each move, then marshal the right pieces and sequence them so that the value of a place far surpasses the sum of its parts.
At the heart of it is the need to create a people-centered place.
It’s that simple and that hard.
A new playbook has emerged.
Shifting demographics and disruptive technologies have fundamentally changed the game. Significant value is going unrealized as developers default to the conventional development checklist rather than seeking out and responding to new insights about the people they serve.
Today, the most vibrant environments are those that break through the traditional boundaries, bringing together surprising elements — a dynamic mash-up of uses — to curate authentic experiences.
“Denise is a whole systems thinker. From macro human needs to financial viability to land plan details.”
PETER CALTHORPE
Sr. VP, HDR/Calthorpe
