EDUCATION

State University of New York at Buffalo, Master of Urban Planning with specialization in Geographical Information Systems

Jamia Milia Islamia University, Master of Arts (Part I) in Sociology

Jamia Milia Islamia University, Bachelor of Arts in Geography

 

PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA

Geographical Information Systems (6-month course) conducted by Jadavpur University, India, Calcutta

 

GRADUATE COURSES

• Evolution of Urban Structure Research Methodologies GIS Applications
• Economic Concepts and Contexts GIS for Planning Race Class and Gender
• Planning Techniques in Action Planning Methods Tourism Planning
• Remote Sensing Land Use & Planning Planning Concepts & Controversies
• GIS/REMOTE SENSING SKILLS /OTHER CIT SKILLS
• GIS software – Arc GIS, Mapinfo, Arcview, AutoCad 2000i, CadOverlay,
• Remote Sensing – ERDAS 8.7
• CIT – MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, MS Word and MS Access

 

PROJECTS

Planning Using GIS Techniques:

• Master’s Project (Nominated for best Master’s project 2005) : Found suitable locations for grocery stores in City of Lockport, NY using ArcGIS
• Analyzed environmentally sensitive areas for residential uses in California by using spatialanalysis.
• Identified sites for affordable senior housing in Buffalo using spatial analysis
• Analyzed neighborhood preference theory with the help of ArcGIS.

Other Planning Projects:

• Conducted analysis using GIS and looked for available grants for historical restoration in the Village of Franklinville in Cattaraugus County, NY to develop tourism in that place (Group project as part of Masters Studio)
• Conducted new land use plan for an existing golf course in Buffalo, NY
• Studied the effect of tourism development on employment in Ellicottville, NY

 

EMPLOYMENT

Graduate Assistant, Urban Planning Department, University at Buffalo

• Job responsibilities included assisting graduate Planning students in the use of GIS tools

jwpittsmsa@gmail.com

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.