Douglas E. Adams
AICP, WEDG
Principal
Douglas is a dedicated urbanist, city planner, and project delivery specialist with twenty years of experience focused on transportation, infrastructure, and
complex, transit-oriented community planning and development. Through a unique combination of public and not-for-profit service and private sector consulting roles, he has developed a strong commitment to sustainable, resilient, and equitable transportation and community planning, design, policy, funding, and visioning coupled with program and project management. Douglas is adept at overseeing large (>$1.5B) project portfolios and creating alignment and consensus between varied interests and stakeholders. He has an established skillset in working with multiple government entities simultaneously to enable redevelopment with new transportation facilities, affordable housing, parks, and cultural amenities, frequently in historically underserved neighborhoods.
Favorite Project & Why
Downtown Far Rockaway in Queens, New York—the project demonstrates how quickly change for the better can happen when all stakeholders are in alignment. Well-served by rapid transit but suffering from decades of disinvestment, the City rezoned the urban village to create 3,000 new, affordable homes, with over $250M in public infrastructure and community benefit investments. Working closely with city agencies and developers, we cut the public infrastructure schedule by over 50% and aligned it with the housing developments. As a result, the program is being delivered much more quickly, and the community is subject to far less disruption due to construction. I’ve never seen an area undergo so much transformation so quickly.
Favorite Thing About Your Job
While I’m a planner, what excites me most is seeing the implementation of my projects—actual change on the ground and positively influencing others through the built environment.
Favorite Thing to Do
Riding my bike, particularly in the city! I consider it controlled, wonderful chaos. Nothing makes me feel more free; it’s almost like flying.
Three Things You Can’t Live Without
Other than my family and pets: my bicycle, wilderness, and hot springs.