James W. Pitts
Mr. Pitts is the President and CEO of the J. W. Pitts Planning & Development LLC, a community planning and real estate development company located in the City of Buffalo NY. As a professional urban planner he has extensive experience and success in completing a broad range of public and private projects. These projects involve; revitalizing central city neighborhoods, redeveloping abandoned and obsolete public housing, cultural and historic preservation, brownfield remediation, downtown and waterfront planning and clean economic development.
Research
Mr. Pitts’ work includes research in the areas of; affordable housing, place based and sustainable community development, brownfield revitalization, ecological and green design, clean business growth and workforce development.
Education
B.A. (Urban Affairs) State University of New York at Buffalo
M.U.P. (Urban and Regional Planning) State University of New York at Buffalo
Public Service
Mr. Pitts is currently the President of the Buffalo Green Gold Development Corp. and is the Vice Chairman for the Buffalo Urban League. He is the former President of the City of Buffalo Common Council and has served on numerous City of Buffalo and regional community and economic development boards.
Selected Projects
Pratt Willert Revitalization and Homeownership Zone
Ellicott Town Center
Frederick Douglass Towers Redevelopment
A.D. Price Courts Redevelopment
Buffalo Forge Redevelopment Plan
Buffalo Niagara Medical Center Plan
King Center Charter School
Niagara Falls Housing Authority HOPE VI Project
Niagara Falls Brownfield Opportunity Study
Perry Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant
J.E. Nash House Historic Preservation
J.E. Nash Interpretive Center
Green Gold Enterprise Center
Selected activities, honors and awards
He has received numerous awards and honors some of which include, Celebrating a Greener New York, the Stone of Hope Award, Carrier of the Torch Award, Black Achievers Award of Excellence, the Buffalo News Citizen of the Year, N.A.A.C.P. Outstanding Community Services Award and the Martin Luther King Community service Award.