ULI member Craig Lewis cites a Bible verse to demonstrate his belief in how Charlotte, or any city, should develop: “Where there is no vision, the people perish,” (Proverbs 29:18). An urban place principal at Stantec, Craig says the most satisfying part of his job is “creating great places where people love to be.” He has consulted on countless planning projects since earning a master’s degree in public administration from UNC Charlotte in 1995.

A key element in his vision for urbanism is equality, where new developments accommodate people from every socio-economic background –– not just the upper tier. Brooklyn Village is one example. After a long planning process, the proposed Second Ward project holds “the promise of delivering a much more equitable development for the city of Charlotte.”

The 17-acre, $700 million development has a 35% commitment to minority- and women-owned firms and small businesses for its design and construction, as well as the staffing of its hotels and tenanting of commercial spaces. Brooklyn Village also is committed to an aggressive affordable-housing program for its 1,200 homes. It’s not surprising that Craig calls improving economic opportunity his favorite cause.

Craig tips his hat to now-retired UNCC planning professor David Walters for his “tireless and selfless contribution to the education and training of our community’s urban designers and architects.” He aspires to deliver a TED talk on effective urbanism, and says his strongest leadership quality is a combination of passion and principle.

Belonging to ULI connects Craig to the broader real estate community and helps him to better understand the many nuances of the real estate life cycle, he says. The connections made through ULI “have helped to turbo-charge my career.”

He and his wife of more than 25 years have five children, and Craig says Kindred’s outdoor patio on a summer evening provides his favorite dining experience. The Vermont native says the beach is his favorite vacation spot.