Jay Renkens

Jay Renkens (AICP) is a planning and design leader with national experience in downtowns, transit-oriented development, streetscapes, land use, and higher education. While researching health and motivational theory, he was struck by the significant influence that the environment has on people’s choices and behavior, and he has sought to shape environments for the better ever since. Although his original studies are behind him, they still form the lens that Jay uses in taking a holistic approach to optimizing social, economic, and physical wellness for the greatest number of people. He strives to integrate equity into planning and design and to address the unintended consequences of gentrification such as displacement and the losses of culture and authenticity. Jay can distill concepts and articulate complex ideas in written, verbal, and visual communications that provide a common foundation for decision-making. He has successfully led projects from high-level vision to implementation by facilitating client, community, and stakeholder collaboration, consensus, and engagement. Jay’s management, design, and planning skills have contributed to transformational change in communities throughout the country from Boston to San Antonio, Portland to Charlotte, and Spokane to Denver.