James Lima Planning + Development

In a new New York Daily News op-ed, The New York Landmarks Conservancy President Peg Breen and JLP+D President James Lima discuss how the Landmarks Preservation Commission's upcoming decision on West Park Presbyterian Church carries implications far beyond the Romanesque Revival building and former home to the Center at West Park, a community performing arts center, with potential to define the future of landmark preservation across New York City. JLP+D’s analysis demonstrated that for years the church has relied on a mix of revenue sources, including fundraising, philanthropy, and grants alongside leases – while the hardship application assumes the church should survive on rental income alone. A ruling in favor of demolition would establish a new standard that endangers thousands of protected buildings, Lima and Breen argue: “If the commission accepts an analysis that ignores how nonprofits actually operate, it will hand every landmarked nonprofit in New York a blueprint for claiming hardship regardless of its true financial condition.” Preservation, housing growth, and economic viability aren't in conflict, and leveraging tools like transferable development rights, recently expanded under the City of Yes initiative, can help advance all three at once. “The city can gain housing without sacrificing an irreplaceable landmark.” Since last November, JLP+D has supported the Center at West Park and a broader coalition working to preserve the West Park Presbyterian Church, leading a financial analysis that lays out a viable alternative to demolition. Read the op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/eKn66aYr

Congratulations to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc. team on the launch of their 20th-anniversary impact report! The nationally renowned Trail is entering a new phase: in addition to expansion and stewardship, it is investing in diverse programming, public art, horticulture, and community engagement. JLP+D was honored to partner with the Indianapolis Cultural Trail team to plan for the long-term sustainability of Indy’s signature trail. According to JLP+D’s economic impact analysis, what began as a $63M initial capital investment now anchors a corridor that has realized $3B in adjacent property value appreciation since 2008. Trail-adjacent properties within a 3-minute walk of the Trail have grown at more than double the city-wide average, with resident growth nearly 5 times the city baseline. Today, more than one million people walk, bike, and explore the Trail each year, enjoying native gardens, world-class public art, and a connected, walkable city experience that has shaped Indianapolis into a world-class destination. Congratulations to Kären Sullivan Haley, Mackenzie Higgins, and the entire Indianapolis Cultural Trail team on two decades of transforming the city and improving quality of life. For more on the Trail’s Impact, follow James Lima Planning + Development, visit our website, and subscribe to our newsletter.

Great things ahead for Downtown Wilmington and the City of Wilmington, NC. JLP+D was honored to be part of the project team alongside Agency Landscape + Planning, Bolton & Menk, Inc., Neighboring Concepts, and Alta Planning + Design. Check out the full plan here: https://lnkd.in/eYGhpdBk. For more on our work, visit https://jlpd.com/. ##UrbanPlanning #EconomicDevelopment #DowntownRevitalization #Wilmington #NorthCarolina #CommunityDevelopment #PublicSpace #UrbanDesign

Parks are economic infrastructure, and cities that treat them that way are building more resilient, equitable communities. Last week, JLP+D Associate Director Candace Chapman presented at the City Parks Alliance's Greater & Greener 2026 conference in Austin. Joining collaborators from Sasaki and City of Madison, WI Parks, Candace participated in the panel: "No Money? No Problem: Creative Funding for Public Parks." The panel got into the real work, examining what a diversified capital stack actually looks like when federal and state funding is uncertain. Grounded in active projects, the discussion highlighted actionable, innovative financing strategies to navigate real-world constraints. At JLP+D, we help cities stop waiting for the right grant and start building across public, earned, and private capital at once. Forward-thinking cities must adapt their financing strategies to reflect this reality, and we are excited to keep exploring these solutions together. A special thank you to Candace's co-panelists, Anna Cawrse and CJ Ryan, and to the City Parks Alliance for hosting this practical and timely dialogue. Ready to build a more resilient financial foundation for your open spaces? Reach out to us today at info@jlpd.com to discuss creative open space funding strategies tailored to your community's needs.

Parks are economic infrastructure, and cities that treat them that way are building more resilient, equitable communities. Last week, JLP+D Associate Director Candace Chapman presented at the City Parks Alliance's Greater & Greener 2026 conference in Austin. Joining collaborators from Sasaki and City of Madison, WI Parks, Candace participated in the panel: "No Money? No Problem: Creative Funding for Public Parks." The panel got into the real work, examining what a diversified capital stack actually looks like when federal and state funding is uncertain. Grounded in active projects, the discussion highlighted actionable, innovative financing strategies to navigate real-world constraints. At JLP+D, we help cities stop waiting for the right grant and start building across public, earned, and private capital at once. Forward-thinking cities must adapt their financing strategies to reflect this reality, and we are excited to keep exploring these solutions together. A special thank you to Candace's co-panelists, Anna Cawrse and CJ Ryan, and to the City Parks Alliance for hosting this practical and timely dialogue. Ready to build a more resilient financial foundation for your open spaces? Reach out to us today at info@jlpd.com to discuss creative open space funding strategies tailored to your community's needs.

JLP+D President James Lima joined an incredible group of global leaders and peers at the World Cities Summit in Singapore to exchange visionary ideas and discuss a hopeful future for urban spaces worldwide! Check out https://jlpd.com for more! #LinearGreenways #WRLDCTY #WorldCitiesSummit #EconomicsofRelevance #UrbanPlanning #Singapore

We are incredibly proud of JLP+D's own Candace Chapman representing alongside Anna Cawrse and CJ Ryan at #greatergreener2026, sharing vital strategies and insights on Creative Park Funding! #NatureCity #EconomicsofRelevance #JLPD #UrbanDesign #EconomicDevelopment

James Lima Planning + Development Associate Director Candace Chapman is speaking today in Austin at City Parks Alliance's Greater & Greener 2026, the premier conference on park innovation and urban placemaking. As federal and state funding grows increasingly uncertain, cities can't afford to rely on a single source to finance parks: they need a full ecosystem of capital strategies. In today’s panel, "No Money? No Problem: Creative Funding for Public Parks," Candace joins Anna Cawrse of Sasaki and CJ Ryan of Madison, WI Parks to explore what that ecosystem looks like in practice. Drawing on JLP+D's work across national projects, she will demonstrate how building more sustainable, vibrant, and equitable cities requires layering capital sources strategically. Parks are not just public amenities. They are economic infrastructure, and the most resilient park systems are financed like it. Join Candace today to learn more. Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM | Waller Ballroom C, 3rd Floor |  Session Information: http://bit.ly/4eeobqQ #EconomicofPlace #NatureCity #UrbanDesign #EconomicofRelevance #UrbanPlanning

Great conversation with JLP+D President James Lima and Orlando Economic Partnership President Tim Giuliani! Watch here: https://lnkd.in/er9tqKBg #UrbanDesign #economicofplace #DowntownOrlando #EconomicDevelopment

Thrilled to keep building on our economic development work in Baton Rouge! #economicofplace #urbandesign #downtown #urbanplanning